Kate Creevey's Key Ideas from Hidden Life of Trees
by Peter Wohlleben

Trees are intelligent, social beings that communicate and form communities.

• We have much to learn from observing and respecting their interconnectedness.

• Roots: Trees share resources and information through a fungal network beneath the soil.
• Mother trees: Older trees care for their offspring, sending them nutrients and warning them of dangers.
• Friendships: Some trees, like beech and fir, form symbiotic relationships with other species.

Trees can learn and adapt to their environment, adjusting their growth patterns and defenses.

They have memory, storing information about past threats and beneficial conditions.

They even count, regulating light and nutrient distribution among their offspring.

Trees communicate through chemical signals sent through their root network.

These signals warn of dangers, share resources, and coordinate responses to threats.

They even "eavesdrop" on other trees' messages to gain information.

Trees "feel" with their leaves, roots, and bark, detecting light, touch, and chemical changes.

They perceive temperature, humidity, and wind, adjusting their defenses accordingly.

They even respond to human touch and emotion, showing signs of stress when damaged.

Death is not an end but a part of the forest cycle, providing nutrients for new growth.

Dying trees support a network of decomposers and create new habitats for other species.

Even decaying wood plays a vital role in forest health and resilience.

Older trees are repositories of knowledge, having witnessed centuries of environmental changes.

They play a crucial role in forest stability and resilience, shaping the ecosystem around them.

Respecting and protecting old trees is essential for maintaining healthy forests.