Fascinaturing facts!

More fun and exciting activities and facts about trees

Crown silliness?!

Did you know that the very tops of the trees in a forest are really, REALLY close, but not touching — leaving tiny little slivers of sky between the leaves. This wonderful spacial awareness is officially called crown shyness, but we think it should be called crown kindness! Scientists think it might be the trees’ way of making sure each one gets enough sunlight and so their leaves don’t bump and break in the wind. We think it’s because their leave do bump and break in the wind!

But trees may seem like they don’t move (unless it’s windy) but trees aren’t just standing still — they’re quietly managing space, sharing light, protecting each other and gently moving in their own way in their own space and time. This is just one of the many ways that forests work together to keep every part of the ecosystem healthy.

Biodiversity…

Is the sciency word for “lots and lots of life” – and trees are some of the best homes for biodiversity! From moss and lichen on the bark to tiny spiders and snails under the leaves, and of course squirrels and birds, a single tree is a skyscraper of habitats – or home – for lots of animals, plants, and bugs.

We can help create habitats by planting trees, letting old trees stay right where they are and protecting those gnarly ones that have hollows and nooks where wildlife can shelter. Even in your garden, a small tree or tall shrub can become a mini hotel for nature.

Lots of layers

A forest has layers you might not even be aware of: the forest floor is dark and damp, full of fungi and insects. The understory has ferns and young saplings. The canopy is where the big branches and leaves spread wide and are home to birds, insects, and other creatures. But right at the top is the emergent layer, where a few brave trees rise above all the rest to say “Hello Sun!”

When Poc and Kit reached the canopy of the beech tree, they could see for miles — and thought it must be very wonderful for the creatures who live up there every day.

Mother trees

Some trees — especially the biggest, oldest ones — are called mother trees because they share their resources with younger trees through an underground network of fungi (episode coming soon)!

These networks act like nature’s internet, allowing mother trees to send extra water, nutrients, and even chemical “messages” to help seedlings grow or warn them about pests. Maybe the beech PocKit climbed might be doing just that — quietly looking after a whole community of younger trees below.

PocKit Robot Book 2: A Trip Up A Tree – a nature adventure!
B-e-e-c-h — it seems to be a beech, Poc! Ah, what a magicool discovery. PocKit were so happy to meet a beech tree tall enough to sway in the clouds. Do you have a favourite climbing tree near you?

We hope you’ll write to us at discovery@pockit.life and tell us:

• What kind of tree you think it is and where does it live?

• How many different plants, insects, birds, or animals did you see in it

• Which was your favourite? PocKit would probably say “all of them!!”

• Did you notice anything unusual about it (like crown shyness, funny shapes, or a hollow trunk)

We’d love to feature your answer on our site or social media!

Activities

• Tree-spotting adventure – Visit your local park, woodland, or even your garden and see how many different types of trees you can find. Can you spot their bark patterns, leaf shapes, or any wildlife using them? The Woodland Trust and Woodlands.co.uk want to help you identify them!

• Climb a (safe) tree – Always with an adult nearby! See how many layers of the forest you can notice from the trunk to the highest branch you can safely reach. Kasey goes to Forest School in the holidays and loves climbing trees there!

• Leaf and bark rubbing – Place paper against the bark or a fallen leaf and gently rub over it with a crayon to reveal its texture.

• BBC Bitesize – Trees are a treat and they have Superpowers!!

• The Tree Council want to help you plant a tree and become a tree warden.