Trees and Time

I used to live and work in West Bengal in India. Here many of the largest old trees are called banyan trees. In very hot climates it is not unusual to see groups of school children sitting under the shade of a banyan tree. Sometimes rural schools may not have enough classrooms for the number of children, but another reason is that it can be much more comfortable to sit under the natural shade of the leaves rather than in a dark humid building. When we visit other lands we can think about how our ancestors might have once lived in our own land many years ago, and how important trees were for them.

This is believed to be the oldest tree in Czechia. It is the Yew tree of Vilemovice, which is near Brno. It is difficult to know its exact age because the oldest wood in the centre of the tree trunk has died away over time. It is certainly over 1000 years old, and possibly as much as 2000 years old.

Sometime, maybe you can try to sit under an old tree with a child, and together, think of the age of the tree and imagine who were the people who may have sheltered under that tree when it was young.

Saints Cyril and Methodius could have sat under this tree when they walked on Czech land in 863 AD. Isn't that a fascinating thought for a child to think about?

Yew trees were associated with druids in ancient times and many of their sacred sites, which were associated with death, had yew trees. This may be due to the great age which these trees achieved. This practice continues as yew trees are often found in Christian graveyards throughout Europe.

And finally, this is a wonderful ancient olive tree from the Greek island of Crete. It is estimated to be about 4000 years old, and it still produces olives every year. How many children have picked olives from its branches since it was a young tree, way, way back, in the Bronze Age?

Saint Paul is said to have visited Crete in the first century AD. If he sat under this tree, then it would have been an ancient tree over 2000 years old at that time. Do you think that trees are an interesting way to connect our children with our past? 

In my education programmes I try my best to bring wonder and interest to the eyes of the children in every group. I hope that my programmes compliment their school classes by exposing them to a memorable experience and to hopefully by more aware of their heritage and surroundings.