Long live the trees (and may we keep enjoying them in good health)
Me in Paris at the Père-Lachaise cemetery, October 2019
A trip to Paris isn’t complete, in my opinion, without experiencing the infamous Père-Lachaise cemetery. Prior to the pandemic, I went to visit my best friend and when she asked me what I wanted to do while I was in town, I asked her if we could visit the historical grounds. What’s remarkable about the Père-Lachaise cemetery – besides the century old family crypts that hold the remains of Edith Piaf, Amedeo Modigliani, Gertrude Stein, Frédéric Chopin, Honoré de Balzac, Marcel Proust, Georges Seurat, Oscar Wilde, Jim Morrison and more – are the trees. For they’ve borne witness to historical moments of extreme sadness and yet there they are – beckoning a stillness and peace that truly stops you in your tracks.
It’s hard to say what my favourite tree is. In fact, I love all sorts of trees all around the world. From the palm tree, to the olive tree, to the cactus pear tree, to the spruce, pine, maple, birch and oak tree, trees keep me healthy and we need more of them in our lives.
Ibiza, 2019
September 22 marks National Tree Day, a day that celebrates the great benefits and beauty trees provide us; clean air, a strong connection to nature, and better health. As our silent allies, trees line the backdrop to our lives whether we actively carve out time for them or quickly pass them by. When I walk past a tree, or sit under one with a good book and coffee, I wonder about the lives touched by the majestic figure in front of me. I also think about those who don’t seem to notice what’s in front of them. It happens – life’s a complicated mess sometimes. But they’re missing out.
A study out of the Greater Good Science Center at Berkeley University reported that time spent looking at trees increases our kindness, compassion, and level of empathy. As part of the study, University students in a controlled setting were divided into two groups. One group was asked to stare up at a business tower, the other stared up at a giant eucalyptus tree. Once the students were done with the timed assignment, their professor pretended to knock over a box of pens. Which of the two groups do you think helped to gather the pens? The tree group.
Numerous health studies show that spending even five minutes amongst, or next to, trees helps to expand our lungs, lower our stress, recentre our thoughts, and calm our nervous system.
“One large tree can provide a day’s oxygen for up to four people. ”
These well-being benefits – greater health, stronger social ties – all might be due to the phytoncides (airborne chemicals) that are emitted by the trees; as we breathe in what trees emit, our bodies respond by increasing the number and activity of a particular kind of white blood cell called Natural Killer (NK) cells. In more simple terms, our blood pressure, cortisol (bad stress), pulse rates, and our sympathetic nervous system activity lowers. And on the flip side, our parasympathetic nervous system activity (related to relaxation and being at ease) increases.
Fall settling in, September 2021
A win win for our hearts and minds, no doubt.
The effects trees – and all natural spaces for that matter – have on us are profound and this National Tree Day, I hope you take a few minutes to get outside and have a look around. Maybe hug a tree, plant one, forest bathe, or just go and admire a tree for what it stands for: a strong symbol of resilience and renewal – an ecological pillar of health and life.
Where I am, the leaves are starting to change colour; it’s the first day of Fall 2021 after all as I publish this. No matter the season, trees take hold of my imagination, add more wind to my sails, and are just so beautiful to admire. Here’s my pledge to the trees this National Tree Day:
I’ll keep admiring the resilience a tree shows as the seasons change – the winds come and they go and yet, look how sturdy our trees stand.
I’ll challenge my schedule every day, seeing how and where I can add more trail tree time to soak up the phytoncides.
I’ll continue eliminating paper from my day to work digitally, helping to preserve forests from across the country.
I’ll help inspire others to turn to nature and trees to keep well too by sharing my observations and experiences as often as I can
Is there a special tree in your life? What do you love about it and why? Share your thoughts in the comments below - I’ll add all names to a draw and plant a tree in the winner’s honour.
My favourite tree in Oakville, a willow tree - September 2021
