Facts about Trees

01

Trees receive 90% of their nutrition from the atmosphere and only 10% from the soil.

02

Trees grow from the top, not from the bottom as is commonly believed. A branch's location on a tree will only move up the trunk a few inches in 1000 years.

03

A tree never dies of old age. They are generally killed by insects, disease or by people. California Bristlecone Pines and Giant Sequoias are regarded as the oldest trees and have been known to live 4,000 to 5,000 years.

04

Britain’s oldest tree is probably the Fortingall Yew in Tayside, which is believed to be over 3000 years old.

05

There are about 20,000 tree species in the world. India has the largest tree treasury.

06

The largest area of forest in the tropics remains the Amazon Basin, amounting to 81.5 million acres.

07

A fully-grown Oak in the UK grows and sheds 250,000 leaves every year and produces around 50,000 acorns in a good year.

08

A healthy mature Birch tree can produce up to 1 million seeds in a good year.

09

Some trees can “talk” to each other. When willows are attacked by caterpillars, they emit a chemical that alerts nearby willow of the danger. The neighbouring trees then respond by pumping more tannin into their leaves making it difficult for the insects to digest the leaves.

10

Knocking on wood for good luck originated from primitive tree worship when rapping on trees was believed to summon protective spirits in the trees.

11

Butterflies have often adapted to living in managed woodland. In parts of England, the Fritillary butterflies have become associated with man-made coppice systems.

12

Tree rings can provide precise information about environmental events including volcanic eruptions. Dendrochronology is the science of dating trees from their rings.

13

Broadleaved trees change colour in the autumn because the green chlorophyll in leaves breaks down and is reabsorbed by the tree, prior to leaf shed.

14

The largest living thing on earth is the Giant Redwood called the ‘General Sherman’ in the Redwood Forest of California, USA. It stands around 275ft tall and 82.3 feet in circumference. Its weight is estimated at 2,756 tons.

15

The largest living thing on earth is the Giant Redwood called the ‘General Sherman’ in the Redwood Forest of California, USA. It stands around 275ft tall and 82.3 feet in circumference. Its weight is estimated at 2,756 tons.

16

Trees can increase property values. A well planted property/street/neighbourhood can increase the value of properties up to 15% (1)

17

Research has shown that an increase in trees and landscaping throughout a business district can increases the amount of business to that area. A tree-lined street will slow traffic and encourage more time to look at shop fronts than to quickly drive past.

18

Trees have been shown to provide significant health and well being benefits. Hospital patients with views of trees out of their window heal faster with less complications.

19

A mature tree removes almost 70 more time pollution than a newly planted one (2)

20

One tree can absorb as much carbon dioxide as a car produces driving 26,000 miles.

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