The Meaning of Trees Podcast
Episodes
Girl in a Tree – Bianca Thomas - @girlinatree – E41
20 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bianca Thomas is a climbing arborist whose sole purpose in life has become to learn and gather wisdom from trees, following an ayahuasca induced epiph...
Natural Burial Site Owner - Simon Ferrar - E40
13 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
TEDx speaker, Simon Ferrar, is founder and creator of Clandon Wood Natural Burial Ground, a multi award winning nature reserve where people are laid t...
Tree Hugging Lawyer - Sarah Dodd - E39
06 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sarah Dodd is CEO and founder of the UK’s first and only law firm specialising solely in tree-specific legal and protection issues. With the dust s...
Tree Bat Guru - Jim Mulholland - E38
30 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Jim Mulholland is a bat and veteran tree specialist with a knack for leaving a big impression in the expert talks and training courses he delivers.In ...
Epping Forest Biodiversity Officer - Andy Froud - E37
23 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nobody knows Epping Forest quite like Andy Froud, a man who has spent the past quarter century looking after its 55,000 veteran trees and getting up c...
Fungal Ecologist - Professor Lynne Boddy - E36
09 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Lynne Boddy is Professor of Mycology at Cardiff University and has been a true pioneer in progressing our knowledge of much maligned but essential tre...
Heritage Trees Specialist - Julian Hight - E35
02 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Julian Hight is a heritage trees author and storyteller who has travelled the globe in search of nature’s oldest veterans and the timeless tales we ...
Tree Architecturalist - Tom Joye - E34
26 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Dubbed “the education of the eye” by its founders, Tree Architecture is an alternative way of seeing and interpreting trees and ex-forester, Tom J...
Rainforest Communicator - Alejandra Hart - E33
12 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alejandra Hart is a writer and Woodland Trust Communications Officer whose heartfelt stories inspire people to care more deeply about temperate rainfo...
Worm Guy - Kevin Chase - E32
28 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Forest Entomologist, Kevin Chase Ph.D, is a Researcher with Bartlett Tree Experts who grew up in the Appalachian mountains of Pennsylvania, USA.Tom an...
Bonsai Collector - Amelia Williams - E31
07 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Bonsai connoisseur, Amelia Williams, has been studying and working with trees of all sizes for more than 20 years, most recently as Director of UK tre...
The Mystery Guest - E30
03 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tom meets a mystery guest in what ends up being a particularly revealing interview for him personally...Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast...
IN ARBORETUM Filmmaker - Kate Colenbrander - E29
26 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kate Colenbrander is a Canadian filmmaker, photographer, writer and UCL Anthropology graduate who brings hidden stories to light from beneath the surf...
Deep Time Forest Researcher - Elena Pearce - E28
12 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Elena Pearce is a post-doctoral Researcher with Aarhus University in Denmark with a special curiosity in what Europe’s forest ecology was like befor...
Big Tree Hunter - Fred Breglia - @bigtreehunters - E27
23 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Fred Breglia is Director of the Landis Arboretum in Upstate New York and a huge advocate for the protection of old growth forests and champion trees, ...
Ancient Tree Ecologist - Vikki Bengtsson - E26
16 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As a founding member of the Ancient Tree Forum, Vikki Bengtsson has studied Europe's veteran trees and their special ecology for more than 30 yea...
Artist & Father - Luke Adam Hawker - @lukeadamhawker - E25
09 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Luke Adam Hawker is a tree-inspired artist, a devoted father, a Sunday Times best selling author and a Woodland Trust ambassador.After a short walk in...
Wild Boar Expert - Chantal Lyons - E24
02 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Chantal Lyons is author of ‘Groundbreakers: The Return of Britain’s Wild Boar’ and has spent the past few years immersing herself into the world...
iTaukei Mental Health Advocate - Meli Tanuku - E23
12 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Meli Tanuku Nakauvadra is a Counselling and Education student at Fiji's National University and a strong advocate for mental health awareness in ...
The Mythical Seacraft - E22
05 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The story of Na Waqa Drua, a revolutionary project to create a giant twin-hulled, wind-powered ocean canoe combining ancient and cutting edge technolo...
Ministry of Forestry Official - Sanjana Lal - E21
08 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sanjana Lal is Fiji’s national Conservator of Forests and heads up the Fijian Government’s Ministry of Forestry department, advocating for sustain...
Intangible Heritage Protector - Simione Sevudredre - E20
01 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Simione Sevudredre is one of Fiji’s best-known advocates when it comes to protecting indigenous heritage and human rights in the South Pacific.Tom a...
SENTINELS Videographer - Pita Yee - @woahstudiosfj - E19
24 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Season 2 kicks off with guest host Arifah interviewing Tom on his return from Fiji alongside talented Videographer and Woah Studios Director, Pita Yee...
The Meaning of Trees Podcast Creator - Tom Hill - E18
06 Jul 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Friend of the podcast, Arifah Sheikh, takes charge of this end of season special as Tom turns guest for the day before interviewing his 10 year old da...
Ancient Tree Doctor - Reg Harris - E17
29 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Reg Harris is an arborist and veteran tree consultant that works on highly prestigious trees like the famous Major Oak at Sherwood Forest.Tom and Reg ...
Heart of the Woods Author - Wyl Menmuir - E16
22 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Wyl Menmuir is the award-winning author of The Heart of the Woods, a book uncovering our deep cultural associations with trees and the traditional cra...
Rainforest Ecologist - Dr Cecilia Chavana-Bryant - E15
15 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Cecilia Chavana-Bryant grew up amongst the urban sprawl of Monterrey, Mexico's 2nd largest city, before a fascination with trees inspired a ca...
Ex Forestry Commission Chairman - Sir Harry Studholme - E14
08 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Sir Harry Studholme is a former Forestry Commission Chair, Honorary Treasurer of the Devon County Agricultural Association, owner of an historic famil...
Ancient Tree Influencer - Cheryl Silvawood - @inalandofgiants.blog - E13
01 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Cheryl Silvawood began her conservation career as a photo journalist in South East Asia, travelling the world to study remote and awe-inspiring habita...
Blind Runner - Mick Duplock - E12
25 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 invest...
Climate Justice Poet - Liba Ravindran - E11
18 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Liba Ravindran is a London based Community Organiser, climate justice activist and tree-loving poet of Sri Lankan heritage.In this heartfelt interview...
Veteran Tree Activist - Jill Butler - E10
11 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 Trus...
Kew Head of Tree Collections - Kevin Martin - E9
04 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Wellbeing Counsellor - Anita Prasad-Willems - E8
27 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 Anit...
Ancient Tree Pilgrim - Martin Hügi - E7
20 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Forager & Wilderness Cure Author - Mo Wilde - E6
13 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mo Wilde is an author, foraging expert and ethnobotanist living in West Lothian, Scotland.Tom and Mo discuss the radical Wildbiome experiment she led ...
Knepp Rewilding Ranger - Tom Burns - @Rustic_Ranger - E5
07 Apr 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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,...
Guitar Maker - Rosie Heydenrych - @turnstoneguitar - E4
31 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Rosie Heydenrych is founder of the Turnstone Guitar Company, making beautiful guitars by hand at her workshop in the Ashdown Forest.Tom and Rosie chat...
National Trust Head of Trees & Woodland - John Deakin - E3
24 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
John Deakin is Head of Trees & Woodland for National Trust, Europe's largest natural and cultural heritage conservation charity.In this episo...
Ancient Tree Legend - Ted Green - E2
17 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Ever thought-provoking, Ted Green is a name synonymous with the world of ancient trees and he remains a Crown Estate Conservation Adviser at 89 years ...
Métis Forest Fire Specialist - Dr Amy Cardinal Christianson - E1
09 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Amy Cardinal Christianson is a wildfire researcher for the Canadian Forest Service and a woman of indigenous Métis heritage with a life-long appre...