The Meaning of Trees Podcast

Bianca Thomas is a climbing arborist whose sole purpose in life has become to learn and gather wisdom from trees, following an ayahuasca induced epiphany that she’s never looked back from. In this end of season special with a final twist, Bianca tells Tom why trees have become her most trusted of guides since leaving behind a career in molecular biology, how her newfound partners are connecting her to an ever-expanding network of other tree inspired people and why the margins of conversation where science, spirituality and human storytelling intersect are providing by far the most reliable sources of curiosity. Watch this interview on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/_t0AcTWN9gc Read more about how Bianca turned to trees here: https://arbortec.com/blogs/news/tree-surgeon-uk-a-woman-s-path-to-arboriculture?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAad1NrSma1yL5GVAj5pcrlsn5qddJvgE8JNlNlf3rmK630RlvNyE68ckt3a3uA_aem_ODqkuzzGzUzUMMTnb_0C6A Check out Bianca’s YouTube channel and go deeper into her story of personal connection with all things arboreal here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbr51I6t0Zkks4sUcVXwqtA Find links to all The Meaning of Trees content and episodes here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

TEDx speaker, Simon Ferrar, is founder and creator of Clandon Wood Natural Burial Ground, a multi award winning nature reserve where people are laid to rest sustainably, in harmony with natural processes. Tom gets Simon's thoughts on how trees are like silent watchers over our lives, learns about the ancient burial practices coming back to life at Clandon Wood and asks for advice on how best to plan for his own death one day. Find out more about Clandon Wood Natural Burial Ground here - https://www.clandonwood.com/ See Simon's TEDx Talk here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HHwBH_fWSI Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Sarah Dodd is CEO and founder of the UK’s first and only law firm specialising solely in tree-specific legal and protection issues. With the dust still settling after the Sycamore Gap trial, Tom gets Sarah’s expert opinion on exactly where this world famous case now leaves us, what might have motivated those who felled the iconic tree that night and how likely a similar event might be tomorrow. Learn more about Sarah’s firm, Tree Law, here: https://www.treelaw.co.uk/ Check out the recording of Sarah's 2025 Tree Law conference here: https://youtu.be/9GelfB7sOY4?si=9a57O4Y_bD0wUpu5 Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Jim Mulholland is a bat and veteran tree specialist with a knack for leaving a big impression in the expert talks and training courses he delivers. In this wide-ranging interview, recorded at Savernake Forest, Tom and Jim cover everything from bat poo, bat discos and Batman to neurodiversity in the scientific communities Jim is a part of and why Die Hard's opening scene is something we could all learn a thing or two from. Sign up for Jim's Bats & Trees Masterclass training here: https://bats.thinkific.com/courses/Bats-and-Trees-Masterclass Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Nobody knows Epping Forest quite like Andy Froud, a man who has spent the past quarter century looking after its 55,000 veteran trees and getting up close and personal with the super-rare wildlife that lives in and alongside them. Tom and Andy chat about his early years spent in West Ham Park, the challenges of managing a vast ancient forest just 15 miles from Big Ben and how to correctly identify a daddy long legs. Learn more about Epping Forest here: https://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/things-to-do/green-spaces/epping-forest/how-we-manage-epping-forest Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Lynne Boddy is Professor of Mycology at Cardiff University and has been a true pioneer in progressing our knowledge of much maligned but essential tree and forest fungal communities for the past 50 years. Tom and Lynne discuss some of the strangest and rarest fungi hiding in our woods, why the Wood Wide Web concept definitely needs more work and dive deep into the unsexy world of rot and wood decay. Check out Lynne’s brilliant videos on wood decay and tree fungi as part of Ancient Tree Forum’s VETcert course resources here: https://www.ancienttreeforum.org.uk/resources/videos/vetcert-further-guidance-on-veteran-tree-management/ Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Julian Hight is a heritage trees author and storyteller who has travelled the globe in search of nature’s oldest veterans and the timeless tales we attach to them. He chats with Tom about his many tree-inspired adventures, the rich historical and sacred significance of trees he’s encountered and why Windsor’s age-defying ancients continue to leave him awestruck. Check out Julian’s brilliant range of books here: https://worldtreestory.my-free.website/ Book on to one of Julian’s upcoming tree tours at Windsor Great Park here - The Ancient Trees of Windsor - Heritage tree walk & talk with Julian Hight - Cumberland Lodge Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Dubbed “the education of the eye” by its founders, Tree Architecture is an alternative way of seeing and interpreting trees and ex-forester, Tom Joye, has been leading sold out courses on the subject for some years now in the UK, creating a quiet revolution in how we think about and manage the trees we look after. Tom shares the core perspective-shifting principles and language behind this new branch of science, explains why many trees in Belgium are at a disadvantage and takes us to meet one of Europe’s oldest oaks. Book a place on Tom‘s upcoming UK Tree Architecture course at Epping Forest here: https://www.ancienttreeforum.org.uk/events/tree-architecture-2-day-workshop-27-28-november-2025-fsc-epping-forest/ Learn more about Tree Architecture here: https://www.ancienttreeforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/P44-49_FINAL.pdf Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Alejandra Hart is a writer and Woodland Trust Communications Officer whose heartfelt stories inspire people to care more deeply about temperate rainforest restoration in the UK. Tom and co-host, Arifah Sheikh, learn about the unique meeting of minds that Alejandra took part in at Buckland Wood on Dartmoor, discuss why pausing to listen is so essential when we're setting out to build meaningful connections and discover how ocean and forest habitats are more intricately linked than we've ever imagined before. Check out Alejandra's brilliant blog RAINFOREST ECHOES: FROM THE AMAZON TO DARTMOOR here: https://www.rainforestrecovery.org.uk/news/rainforest-echoes Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Forest Entomologist, Kevin Chase Ph.D, is a Researcher with Bartlett Tree Experts who grew up in the Appalachian mountains of Pennsylvania, USA. Tom and Kevin talk about their special collaboration around worms, unearth what makes these humble ecosystem engineers so vital to trees and then burrow deep into the fascinating 'Allee Effect' philosophy. Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast Check out more about Kevin's work with Bartlett Tree Experts' Research team here: https://www.bartlett.com/staff/kevin-chase-phd With special thanks to National Trust Leith Hill Place for hosting this recording https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/surrey/leith-hill/visiting-the-house-at-leith-hill-place

Bonsai connoisseur, Amelia Williams, has been studying and working with trees of all sizes for more than 20 years, most recently as Director of UK tree consultancy firm - the Arb Company. Tom and Amelia zoom in on the miniature world of tiny tree craft and discuss what bonsai can teach us about better looking after bigger trees, as well as ourselves. Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast Check out Amelia’s Arb Company website here: https://arb.company/amelia-williams/ With special thanks to National Trust Sheffield Park for hosting this recording https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/sussex/sheffield-park-and-garden

Tom meets a mystery guest in what ends up being a particularly revealing interview for him personally... Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Kate Colenbrander is a Canadian filmmaker, photographer, writer and UCL Anthropology graduate who brings hidden stories to light from beneath the surface of mainstream conversation. Tom and Kate discuss her provocative new film - In Arboretum - which poses important questions about the lack of protection our oldest trees face versus development, what the modern human / tree relationship looks like today and what trees might say if they were able to talk. Watch Kate's film - IN ARBORETUM here: https://youtu.be/CSuK3Ea6L9E Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast Check out Kate's website here: https://katecolenbrander.com/

Elena Pearce is a post-doctoral Researcher with Aarhus University in Denmark with a special curiosity in what Europe’s forest ecology was like before the last ice age. Hear her explanation of the long term warming and cooling cycles of our planet, her thoughts on how studying the forests of the past can help us better understand the present picture and why re-inventing a woolly mammoth might not be the best of ideas. Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast Visit Elena's Aarhus University Research profile here: https://pure.au.dk/portal/en/persons/elena.pearce@bio.au.dk

Fred Breglia is Director of the Landis Arboretum in Upstate New York and a huge advocate for the protection of old growth forests and champion trees, connecting more than 1.5 million tree enthusiasts from around the world through his much loved Instagram and Facebook accounts. Tom and Fred talk about his very first encounter with a giant tree, the power of sharing images and why there's no time like today to appreciate the last remaining trees of great age. Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast Fred is a founder of the Ancient Forests Facebook group: www.facebook.com/ancientforests

As a founding member of the Ancient Tree Forum, Vikki Bengtsson has studied Europe's veteran trees and their special ecology for more than 30 years and her latest research remains at the cutting edge of tree related-science. Tom and Vikki chat holes, hollows and cavities, delve deep into the idea that trees might live forever (if we let them) and discuss the thinking behind her most controversial work. Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast Learn more about Ancient Tree Forum here: https://www.ancienttreeforum.org.uk/

Luke Adam Hawker is a tree-inspired artist, a devoted father, a Sunday Times best selling author and a Woodland Trust ambassador. After a short walk in the Surrey Hills, Tom and Luke sit down to discuss the timeless powers of trees in storytelling, the way his son Harry has irreversibly shaped his life for the better and how trees can offer faith in tougher times. Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast Check out Luke's artwork here: https://www.lukeadamhawker.com/

Chantal Lyons is author of ‘Groundbreakers: The Return of Britain’s Wild Boar’ and has spent the past few years immersing herself into the world of megafauna. After walking in the Forest of Dean, Tom and Chantal discuss wild boars’ special role in supporting forest ecology, the perceptions of danger that often accompany them and her hopes for a world where wild animals and human beings might one day co-exist in harmony. Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast Find out more Chantal's book - Groundbreakers: The Return of Britain's Wild Boar - here: chantallyons.uk Find out more about the Forest of Dean here: https://www.forestryengland.uk/the-forest-of-dean

Meli Tanuku Nakauvadra is a Counselling and Education student at Fiji's National University and a strong advocate for mental health awareness in indigenous iTaukei culture. Tom and Meli talk about why trees and natural spaces matter so much in a developing country with a rich indigenous heritage to protect and discuss the concept of 'dominion' in traditional Christian teaching. Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast Find out more about Meli's advocacy for mental health with indigenous communities here: https://www.pressreader.com/fiji/the-fiji-times/20240629/284094916690918?srsltid=AfmBOop4q-EpXugZU3qxtMwrjuebs6RMVYCpV6ihgPilJz92wVtpE5sR

The story of Na Waqa Drua, a revolutionary project to create a giant twin-hulled, wind-powered ocean canoe combining ancient and cutting edge technologies in a shared mission to sail around the world. Tom interviews Carson Young and his diverse team of innovators to learn how they are bringing back to life a Fijian odyssey whilst ensuring that it’s fully fit for the future. Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast Learn more about the Na Waqa Drua project here: https://www.facebook.com/people/Waqa-Drua/100087579050491