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 close and personal with the super-rare wildlife that lives in and alongside them.

Tom and Andy chat about his early years spent in West Ham Park, the challenges of managing a vast ancient forest just 15 miles from Big Ben and how to correctly identify a daddy long legs.

Learn more about Epping Forest here: https://www.visiteppingforest.org

Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Lynne Boddy is Professor of Mycology at Cardiff University and has been a true pioneer in progressing our knowledge of much maligned but essential tree and forest fungal communities for the past 50 years.

Tom and Lynne discuss some of the strangest and rarest fungi hiding in our woods, why the Wood Wide Web concept definitely needs more work and dive deep into the unsexy world of rot and wood decay.

Check out Lynne’s brilliant videos on wood decay and tree fungi as part of Ancient tree Forum’s VETcert course resources here: https://www.ancienttreeforum.org.uk/resources/videos/vetcert-further-guidance-on-veteran-tree-management/

Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

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 attach to them.

He chats with Tom about his many tree-inspired adventures, the rich historical and sacred significance of trees he’s encountered and why Windsor’s age-defying ancients continue to leave him awestruck.

Check out Julian’s brilliant range of books here: https://worldtreestory.my-free.website/

Book on to one of Julian’s upcoming tree tours at Windsor Great Park here - The Ancient Trees of Windsor - Heritage tree walk & talk with Julian Hight - Cumberland Lodge

Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Dubbed “the education of the eye” by its founders, Tree Architecture is an alternative way of seeing and interpreting trees and ex-forester, Tom Joye, has been leading sold out courses on the subject for some years now in the UK, creating a quiet revolution in how we think about and manage the trees we look after.

Tom shares the core perspective-shifting principles and language behind this new branch of science, explains why many trees in Belgium are at a disadvantage and takes us to meet one of Europe’s oldest oaks.

Book a place on Tom‘s upcoming UK Tree Architecture course at Epping Forest here: https://www.ancienttreeforum.org.uk/events/tree-architecture-2-day-workshop-27-28-november-2025-fsc-epping-forest/

Learn more about Tree Architecture here: https://www.ancienttreeforum.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/P44-49_FINAL.pdf

Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Alejandra Hart is a writer and Woodland Trust Communications Officer whose heartfelt stories inspire people to care more deeply about temperate rainforest restoration in the UK.

Tom and co-host, Arifah Sheikh, learn about the unique meeting of minds that Alejandra took part in at Buckland Wood on Dartmoor, discuss why pausing to listen is so essential when we're setting out to build meaningful connections and discover how ocean and forest habitats are more intricately linked than we've ever imagined before.

Check out Alejandra's brilliant blog RAINFOREST ECHOES: FROM THE AMAZON TO DARTMOOR here: https://www.rainforestrecovery.org.uk/news/rainforest-echoes

Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Forest Entomologist, Kevin Chase Ph.D, is a Researcher with Bartlett Tree Experts who grew up in the Appalachian mountains of Pennsylvania, USA.

Tom and Kevin talk about their special collaboration around worms, unearth what makes these humble ecosystem engineers so vital to trees and then burrow deep into the fascinating 'Allee Effect' philosophy.

Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Check out more about Kevin's work with Bartlett Tree Experts' Research team here: https://www.bartlett.com/staff/kevin-chase-phd

With special thanks to National Trust Leith Hill Place for hosting this recording https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/surrey/leith-hill/visiting-the-house-at-leith-hill-place

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 tree consultancy firm - the Arb Company.

Tom and Amelia zoom in on the miniature world of tiny tree craft and discuss what bonsai can teach us about better looking after bigger trees, as well as ourselves.

Find links to all The Meaning of Trees Podcast channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast

Check out Amelia’s Arb Company website here: https://arb.company/amelia-williams/

With special thanks to National Trust Sheffield Park for hosting this recording https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/sussex/sheffield-park-and-garden

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 channels and content here: https://linktr.ee/themeaningoftreespodcast