Why do we need more trees? For in the coming days and weeks we are going to be told that we need them. Any citizen could reel off a few reasons why. We need trees for timber; we need them to help purify or filter the air, which they do successfully in towns and villages. We need them for the decoration of our gardens or as windbreaks, and somebody is going to emphasise that we need them to beautify the landscape and to replace those ancient woods we read so much about that were cut away for various reasons, sometimes nefarious, as we see it today.
And John McLoughlin, president of the Tree Council, writes to say that this year's Tree Day (tomorrow, October 19th) is specially marked out in all primary schools for the study of trees from the scientific point of view. For example, simple experiments are outlined, such as showing how water rises, or rather is drawn up to the very top twig of a tree. Then, do plants need light? They surely do, so trees or plants being drawn to the light are part of the experiment. Another is to show how acid rain harms plants. They have a manual or file prepared, in four parts, from the infants to the fifth and sixth classes.
Autumn, writes John, is an appropriate time to hold this Tree Day as trees prepare to shed their leaves and children are encouraged to take part in woodland walks on the day. There is a long list of places all over the country, several score, with the name of the potential guide, and phone number. In the portfolio that goes with all this is all you wanted to know about trees, sparkily illustrated by drawings of a little pixie guide in the shape of an animated acorn.
You might fear that making trees a special study for children could turn the adventure into just another school lesson. This cartoon-illustrated sheaf of papers dispels the fear. With all this, there is a splendid colour poster of a huge oak tree.
You could add to the question "What are trees for?" the schoolboy passion (not so alive in an age when they hurry home to watch TV) for tree-climbing. Which is the best, the easiest to climb? The safest? The cry, "Look where I am now", from high among the leaves is less heard in the land.