This week I saw a tree that reminded me of one that I first saw 36 years ago with my family. We visited the Major Oak tree in Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire. It was major. It was MASSIVE! Especially for my freshly NHS spectacled 5yr old eyes (of which my daughter today said when she saw a photo of me, “aww, you look cute mumma” – oh how I wish she had been in my class at school). Anyway, I remember being in awe and wonder and even at this young age was truly humbled by this magnificent natural beast, my memory decided to bank that one. A few days later, my parents shared the news of a fire, at the Major Oak. What!?!?! I remember feeling really sad, how could anyone want to hurt a tree, who had done nothing but good for people, especially Robin Hood, as legend would say.
Maybe this is when my love of trees began. The beautiful Major.
Growing up trees have been significant at various times in my life.
I remember meeting a new next-door-neighbour-but-one under the Willow tree at the top of the street. We had recently moved house and I had nits for the ‘umpteenth time’ and was told by my mum to stay under the tree and not go any further for fear of contaminating newly found neighbours, imagine!
School holidays were spent with the neighbourhood kids, climbing and falling out of a tree into the ‘telephone exchange’ – an out of bounds building with a vast unused grassy side bank. Feeling daring, we used to drop down from the tree’s branches and then run, or roll, as fast as we could down the grassy slopes and out through a hole in the fence. Such fun!
During high school, I scratched my initials and those of the young trainee PE teacher inside a love heart on a tree at Newmillerdam, and for years after was worried that my peers from school would see my declaration of love (that obviously was only alive in my teenage head, and growing heart).
And last but not least, the mango tree in the backyard was pretty special. I first saw it when I was living in an apartment and dating my now-husband. It died suddenly a few years ago after many seasons of producing heaps and heaps (and heaps!) of sweet juicy fruit. “The best mango tree in Sydney” one gardener declared. It was extra special to me because I loved the sweet sentiment of the ‘Mango Tree’ song by Angus and Julia Stone. It also told me that dreams can come true:
‘Wish I had a mango tree. In my backyard. With you standing next to me.’
And that’s as slushy as I get, apart from my undying love of stripes and trees. Until next time.
Stripes and trees x
Stripes & Trees 