Authors Electric

  The Hidden Life of Trees I think this book has blown my mind. I'll give you a quote. Wohlleben is discussing coppiced trees: that is, trees that have been felled, or partially felled, so new trunks sprout from the root. It was commonly done in the past to trees such as hazel and yew, to 'farm' trees by producing a continuous growth of new wood. But how to measure the age of these coppiced trees? Are they as old as the new growth? In which case, they're just a few years old, since coppicing is done roughly every eight to ten years. Or, are these coppiced trees as old as the roots they re-grow from? In which case, they may be hundreds of years old. Peter Wohlleben tells us that scientists investigated this question by: '...researching ancient spruce in Dalarna province in Sweden. The oldest spruce in Dalarna has grown a carpet of flat shrubby growth around its single small trunk. All this growth belongs to one tree, and its roots were tested using carbon 14 dating.....

Susan Jane Smith           Are e-books “green”?   Are they the environmentally friendly way to go?           I have not heard of any research about this – have you?   I think it would be useful if an environmental specialist gave an opinion – do you know anyone who would be an appropriate person to ask about doing the research?           I live in the beautiful Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire and I am surrounded by trees including ancient woodland.   Any time I hear a chain saw my heart aches – I hate trees being killed – it just seems so wrong to me.   They are living creatures and many of them pre-date those of us alive today.           But, then you do also need to understand that I do hug trees – unashamedly!   Yes, I am proud to be a tree hugger.   They are mos...