Amazing Facts You Should Know about Trees

There are over 60,000 different species of trees in the world, these are different shapes, and sizes and there is so much to learn about them.  Here are a few facts:

1) Just like humans, trees need water to survive, and they drink a lot of it. In a single day, a large tree can consume 100 gallons of water out of the ground and discharge it into the air as oxygen and water vapor. Keep in mind that many conditions play a role such as the size of the tree, species of the tree, humidity, temperatures, sun exposure, etc.

2) A tree can absorb as much as 48 pounds of carbon dioxide each year and can sequester 1 ton of carbon dioxide by the time it reaches 40 years old.

3) Trees help keep soil healthy.  Decomposing leaf litter returns to the soil as organic matter. They also reduce soil erosion by binding soil in place, this increases the soil's potential to retain water and can be beneficial in times of flooding and drought.

4) 2% of the UK’s land area is covered by ‘ancient woodland’. This is woodland that has existed since the 1600’s in England and Wales, and since the 1750’s in Scotland. Their ecosystems are complex and rich in wildlife. Sherwood Forest is the largest concentration of ancient trees in Northern Europe, with over 1,000 oak trees each up to 1,000 years old.

5) Some trees can release chemicals to warn others about threats such as insects, the other trees can then produce tannins to make their leaves unpalatable to the approaching predators.

6) The oldest tree in the UK is thought to be the Fortingall yew in Perthshire, Scotland, and is estimated to be between 2,000 and 3,000 years.

7) Fungi and trees support each other through a huge network of ‘mycorrhizal’ roots. This network helps share water and nutrients

8) Trees are natural farmers.  Combining trees and farming is known as ‘Agroforestry’. Grazing animals under trees gives them shelter and fodder, whilst the animals enrich the soil. Growing crops beneath trees creates a sheltered microclimate for the plants whilst the trees deep roots bring nutrients up from lower down. Trees also provide vital habitats for wildlife. They help farmers by housing natural predators to many common crop pests, thus reducing the need for pesticides.

9) Even after they die, trees continue to be an important ecosystem. As they decompose on the forest floor they provide shelter and food for a diversity of organisms

10) Trees affect our climate, and therefore our weather, in three primary ways: they lower temperatures, reduce energy usage and reduce or remove air pollutants. Each part of the tree contributes to climate control, from leaves to roots.

11) A ‘Nemophilist’ is the name given to those who love woodland and trees.

12) Scientists have found that older bigger trees share nutrients with smaller trees, which later repay them back when they have developed.

Read more interesting articles on Trees, Forests and Woodlands