THE SCIENCE OF TREES

Sunlight gives energy to everything on earth. We need sunlight for photosynthesis Water combines with carbon dioxide to produce sugar and oxygen.

THE LIVING TREE Heartwood - is the dead inner part of the tree which gives it strength Sapwood - is the outer layer which carries water and sugars up and down the tree. Bark - is the outside layer of the tree which protects it.

TREES BREATHE LIFE INTO US One of the by- products of trees is oxygen, which is vital to us. An area of plants 625m 2 is needed to produce enough oxygen for one person.

WHAT DO TREES NEED? Sunlight and water (in order to stay healthy) You and I can survive on bread and water – is sunlight and water enough to keep our trees happy? Trees like people require nutrients They obtain these from the soil – organisms such as worms, insects, fungi and bacteria MULCH is important – this can be manure, rotting leaves, rotting grass, wood chip etc

Frequently Asked Questions How long does it take for trees to grow to their full size? This depends on the climate, the type of tree, the area – so it depends. Some trees may take 30 years, others may take a hundred years. Why do leaves of deciduous trees change colour? Leaves are full of chlorophyll which is green in colour but there are other ‘hidden’ colours in a leaf. In spring and summer chlorophyll is working hard and is very prominent. In autumn the food production slows down. When this happens, the green colour of the chlorophyll disappears and the other leaf colours are allowed to show through.