The Secrets of the Trees
We hold our Mystic Magic in the Forest weekend retreats at Rosliston, in Rosliston National Forest, near Burton upon Trent, just south of Derby in the Midlands. Our retreats are themed, but often include an appreciation of nature, walks, the significance of trees in Spiritual and Pagan history, and their myths and legends. This blog charts the story, in instalments, of those trees, and all of those to be found at Rosliston, around forty species. Each tree is to be found at Rosliston,but may also be found more widely around Great Britain, Europe, North America and beyond.
In these blogs I describe each tree, explain where they are found, what their history is and how they have related to our history. I also explore the myths and legends surrounding the trees in different countries and from different traditions as well as how herbalists have used them to treat human conditions and how products from the trees have been used throughout history. I hope that you enjoy reading these tree blogs as much as I have enjoyed writing them for you. If you would like to come and see them in their natural habitat why not join us for one of our retreats?
Giant sequoia/ Redwood Coast Redwood – sequoia sp
The granddaddy of all trees which has been recorded to grow to 112 metres ( General Sherman in Sequoia National Park California), and live for a thousand years, its bark can be a metre thick, male and female cones are on the same tree.
It is naturally fire resistant and profits from fire which clears undergrowth and dries out the cones, which can fall up to 200m from the tree, allowing the seed to fall out. It takes its name after a famous American Native Indian, Sequoya, although there were bids to name it after George Washington and the Duke of Wellington!
