The Meaning of Trees Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

The story of Na Waqa Drua, a revolutionary project to create a giant twin-hulled, wind-powered ocean canoe combining ancient and cutting edge technologies in a shared mission to sail around the world.

Tom interviews Carson Young and his diverse team of innovators to learn how they are bringing back to life a Fijian odyssey whilst ensuring that it’s fully fit for the future.

Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Learn more about the Na Waqa Drua project here: https://www.facebook.com/people/Waqa-Drua/100087579050491

Sanjana Lal is Fiji’s national Conservator of Forests and heads up the Fijian Government’s Ministry of Forestry department, advocating for sustainable forest stewardship in a country with 61% tree cover where 80% of the land is owned and inhabited by indigenous communities.

Tom and Sanjana explore her thoughts and philosophies on protecting pristine rainforest and discuss why a community-centred approach remains vital to a future-proof mindset.

Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Learn more about Fiji's Ministry of Forestry here: Ministry of Forestry

Mick Diplock lost his sight more than 20 years ago, but the pure joy he gets from running amongst trees has never left him.

In this episode, Tom investigates how Mick forged a lifelong affection for woods and the great outdoors, how going blind in mid-life changed his relationship with every aspect of the world around him and how he's still crossing the finish line at the great age of 80.

Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

With special thanks to National Trust Nymans for hosting this recording https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/sussex/nymans

Liba Ravindran is a London based Community Organiser, climate justice activist and tree-loving poet of Sri Lankan heritage.

In this heartfelt interview, we explore Liba's work to support marginalised communities within the UK, the difference in western and global majority mindsets when it comes to thinking about the natural environment and the fundamental role trees continue to play in so many different cultures around the world.

Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Liba is founder of Anti-Oppression Circle: https://www.encaf.org/london/encaf-network/anti-oppression-circle

Jill Butler has spent a lifetime fighting for better protection of ancient and veteran trees in the UK as a long-time ambassador for the Woodland Trust and Ancient Tree Forum.

We discuss how old trees are integral to our cultural and natural heritage, how many irreplaceable trees remain under threat from human developments and the inspiration she's gleaned from like-minded tree activists around the world.

Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Kevin Martin is Head of Tree Collections at the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and is leading a cutting-edge climate modelling project to predict the fate of Kew's trees come 2090, if temperatures continue to rise.

Tom and Kevin discuss his memories of following his dad around as a tree surgeon, his travels around the world to study exotic forest habitats and what his wife makes of his lifelong mission to rescue Kew’s tree collection.

Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Learn more about Kew here: https://www.kew.org/

With special thanks to National Trust Savoy Hill House for hosting this recording.

Anita Prasad-Willems is a Brighton-based wellbeing counsellor and therapist that depends on trees to keep her rooted and grounded in life.

Tom and Anita discuss her work to help others connect with Mother Earth, the otherworldly realms she's encountered through her meditation practices, the simple benefits of spending time around trees and how to tell if a podcast is AI generated.

Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Learn more about Anita’s Wisdom Within therapies here: https://www.wisdomwithintherapies.com/plans

Martin Hügi is Senior Conservation Advisor at the Woodland Trust and known more widely as the Ancient Tree Pilgrim because in spring 2023 he set off on foot from Lands End to John O' Groats to meet more than 2000 of the UK's oldest and most majestic trees.

In this episode, Tom and Martin discuss the origins of his sacred solo mission, the reverence he holds for ancient trees and how his journey became more important than any destination.

Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Learn more about the Woodland Trust here: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk

With special thanks to National Trust Hatfield Forest for hosting this recording https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/essex-bedfordshire-hertfordshire/hatfield-forest

Mo Wilde is an author, foraging expert and ethnobotanist living in West Lothian, Scotland.

Tom and Mo discuss the radical Wildbiome experiment she led in partnership with ZOE in 2020 where she survived solely on wild foraged food for an entire year to test the effects on her gut microbiome and they chat about her early memories of trees in Kenya, modern food production and Mo’s personal insights into the hunter gatherer lifestyle.

Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Find out more about Mo’s books and the Wildbiome experiment here: https://monicawilde.com

Tom Burns is Ranger and Woodsman at Knepp Wildlands, a pioneering rewilding project and a leading light for nature recovery in the UK.

In this episode, guest Tom takes us on a virtual safari of Knepp to encounter the best of its wildlife, tackles some of the most common misconceptions surrounding the rewilding approach, speaks about his urban upbringing and shares what being a Ranger is all about.

Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Find out more about Knepp here: https://knepp.co.uk