As you walk through the forest, can you hear the breeze rustling the leaves; the wind whistling through the branches; and the trees’ creaking as they move?
It almost sounds like the trees are talking to each other …. and maybe they are!
Scientists have discovered that trees really do ‘talk’ – but because they don’t have mouths, they chat through their roots instead!
Beneath the forest floor, there is a whole secret world. Tree roots are connected to each other by tiny fungi, and their network of threads called mycelium. It is like the forest’s very own internet – or a ‘Wood Wide Web!’
This hidden network lets trees share food and water, keeping the whole forest healthy and strong.
Older trees, often called ‘Mother Trees,’ are the wise ones of the forest, passing extra nutrients to younger trees. And if a tree is sick, then nearby trees might send it water and sugars to help it feel better. What great teamwork!
Trees also share lots of important and helpful messages through the air as well as through their roots. If insects start nibbling on leaves, a tree can send chemical warning signals to its neighbours – ‘Watch out for pests!’ Other trees can then get ready for an insect attack by making their leaves taste bitter so the bugs don’t want to eat them! Isn’t that clever?
Nature Activity for Children
Go for a nature walk to the woods, the park, or find a tree in your garden. Close your eyes and stand very still. Now imagine the roots beneath your feet, stretching out and connecting to all the other trees nearby.
- What do you think the trees are saying to each other?
- If you were a tree, what message would you send?
- Why not draw a picture of what you think the underground Wood Wide Web looks like!
And next time you are in the forest, remember the secret world beneath your feet, where trees are chatting, sharing and looking after each other!
