the tree of life sangha

trees for life ~ may 2022 newsletter

Tree News - May 2022

Between every two pines is a doorway to a new world.   ― John Muir

89,000 trees grown on the nursery   Since autumn we have carefully nurtured and grown 89,000 trees - ranging from aspen to willow. These trees are now in West Affric, the Forest of Hope in Beldorney and at Dundreggan itself, where the team planted 1,440 trees in Carn na Caorach last week, marking the end of the spring planting season.  As they grow, seed and support natural regeneration, these young trees will transform the landscape of the Scottish Highlands - and provide a home for a host of plants, birds, mammals and insects.  Thank you to everyone who has purchased a tree certificate or grove with us.

How to spot a red squirrel This month we released a new video on how to identify a red squirrel. From its feeding habits to its distinct mating call, nature educator, Dan Puplett reveals all the tell-tale signs to spot on your next walk in the woods. Watch here.

The Shieling Project Skills for Rewilding trainee, Alice, recently helped lead a week at The Shieling Project in Strathfarrar to build on her community engagement experience. She worked with primary school children to care for livestock and learn traditional crafts, such as natural dying and willow weaving.

Rare hawk moth visits Dundreggan A rare moth has landed at Dundreggan nursery. Resembling a bumblebee, the narrow bordered bee hawk moth flies between May and June, feeding on flowers like marsh thistle and lousewort. Dundreggan provides a perfect home of natural grasslands and shrubs.

Riverwoods screening We joined the Drumnadrochit community to watch Riverwoods  from SCOTLAND: The Big Picture. Riverwoods follows the plight of Scotland’s salmon and the call to restore river woodlands to help save them - our Affric Highlands initiative is working to do just that. Sign up to view the film here.

By donating to Trees for Life, you can help us rewild the Scottish Highlands. Please consider donating here.

Forest Champions A special thanks to outdoor enthusiasts Meg and Sammy, who will take on 26 Munros in July to raise money for rewilding.  Their 122km walking challenge is an opportunity to celebrate Scotland’s mountains and help us rewild the landscape of the Highlands. Their fundraising expedition will take four days, beginning at Glenshee and ending on Ben Wyvis on Saturday 16 July. Support Meg’s and Sammy's fundraising challenge here. Thanks to everyone who has donated to Trees for Life this month.

meditation on a leaf

Meditation on a leaf  ~ Thich Nhat Hanh

 

I asked the leaf whether it was frightened because it was autumn and the other leaves were falling.  The leaf told me,

“No.  During the whole spring and summer I was completely alive. I worked hard to help nourish the tree, and now much of me is in the tree. I am not limited by this form. I am also the whole tree, and when I go back to the soil, I will continue to nourish the tree. So I don’t worry at all. As I leave this branch and float to the ground, I will wave to the tree and tell her, ‘I will see you again very soon.”

 

That day there was a wind blowing and, after a while, I saw the leaf leave the branch and float down to the soil, dancing joyfully, because as it floated it saw itself already there in the tree. It was so happy. I bowed my head, knowing that I have a lot to learn from the leaf.”

 

” … So please continue to look back and you will see that you have always been here. Let us look together and penetrate into the life of a leaf, so we may be one with the leaf. Let us penetrate and be one with the cloud or with the wave, to realize our own nature as water and be free from our fear. If we look very deeply, we will transcend birth and death.

 

Tomorrow, I will continue to be. But you will have to be very attentive to see me. I will be a flower, or a leaf. I will be in these forms and I will say hello to you. If you are attentive enough, you will recognize me, and you may greet me. I will be very happy.