Trees, Trees and More Trees

ST BARBE’S WOOD


Richard St Barbe Baker, the Man of the Trees, visited the community frequently in the 70s. He brought in a major source of knowledge about trees. Jonathan Caddy remembers him as a quite dynamic man, who had the same enthusiasm as his father Peter. Richard St Barbe dedicated his life to the reforestation challenge, educating people and planting millions of trees throughout the world. In the Universal Hall in summer 1981 he spoke about the importance of trees in the cycle of planetary life and shared a poem celebrating trees and their role.

From the community’s early days much emphasis was placed on trees. A bridge was created between humanity and the nature kingdoms. Through Dorothy Maclean’s connection with the devic or angelic realms, the spirit of the trees spoke. The Deva of the Leyland Cypress said:

Great forests must flourish, and humanity must see to this if they wish to continue on this planet. the knowledge of this necessity must become part of their consciousness, as much accepted as their need for water in order to live. they need trees just as much; the two are interlinked. We are, indeed, the skin of the earth, and a skin not only covers and protects but passes through it the forces of life. nothing could be more vital to life as a whole than trees, trees and more trees.

The first trees were planted around the original caravan by Peter Caddy as shelterbelts to protect the vegetable gardens from wind. Many types of trees were planted to include the different qualities associated with each species and the trees grew quickly.

Attention to the trees was evidenced by a Tree Week held in August 1981 and St Barbe opened it at Drumduan House, with an exhibit of tree sculpture, prints and woodcuts. Vance Martin created the Findhorn Foundation Tree Programme in the same year. It had two main goals: to repopulate the Earth with trees and to foster deeper understanding and appreciation of the sacred and practical nature of trees. Through donations, a tree nursery and standing-out ground could be established in both the Cullerne and Pineridge gardens to grow trees for use in the Foundation as well as to sell locally. In 1985 more than 4,000 trees grew in those nurseries.

In addition, at Spring Equinox 1984 community members planted 1,500 trees as a shelterbelt around the lower end of the newly-bought Caravan Park. Trees were also planted in other community areas for shelterbelts against the wind, for garden beauty, fruits, nuts, fuel wood and wildlife.

Adriana Sjan Bijman with quotes from One Earth Journal Sept 1981; Linda Parker, One Earth 1985