The lemniscate refers to the law of cause and effect. We have really forgotten that a tree has the potential to be immortal. It is also becoming increasingly known that a tree can not really be seen as an individual. Scientifically it has been established that trees work together, feed each other, and that even the immense wound can grow close to a cut-off tree.

In the foreground the overgrown stalk of a tree that has been cut down. With Peter Wohlleben in the background.

Peter Wohlleben shows this in a Douglas fir that has fallen to the ground and of which the wound is completely closed on energy supplied by the neighbor tree. The ultimate proof that it is possible that the root system of a felled tree is completely taken over by the neighboring tree, and that as a result the immense wound can grow close.

This is also evidence that there is a forest system instead of a forest with individual trees.

We have really forgotten this phenomenon because almost nowhere in Europe the essence tree still has a place where it is completely connected in all its fibers with the complete and fully functioning ecosystem.

Nowhere in Europe do rabbits with some groups of wild cattle, bison, red deer or red wood ants roam from one country through another to the country where they spend the winter. All ecosystems are curbed in fenced areas. The realization that a healthy ecosystem only fully functions when animals can migrate again, such as 1000 years ago, across the continents is growing.

While the call for ecoducts and their construction continues, a wolf still can not migrate relatively safely from Belarus via the Netherlands to southern Spain.The dangers of the motorways are immense and yet nature continues to try.

Brooding Tawny Owl in the center of a village in Belgium

You have seen it well … you only see five because two are invisible behind the crown.

The pigeons symbolize a peaceful place, but also as part of the biodiversity that is inextricably linked to a World Tree. We are inspired by observations such as a tawny owl that just breeds in a very old tree in the middle of the market square in a village in Belgium. There are too many discoveries to mention, of animals that live in that old tree in a bustling city center. That tree with its usually hollow trunk and densely leafed crown gives even sufficient shelter in the heart of a village or city.

In this case, a World Tree is a real “stepping stone” for biodiversity. The bustle of a city or village does not have to stand in the way of biodiversity.

Thousand is an age for a tree that speaks to the imagination. That age is so immense and seems unimaginable. But if you look around the world it is not that special that a tree is 500-1000 years or older. It is especially special when a tree gets enough underground and above ground space from the surrounding people, and the space in time … to become this.

Yes it is true … a Birch will not soon become 1000 years old. We do not have the reference that it is possible. On a country estate in England, 34 immense oaks stand together. And yes … they have all become so old. We have examples of Linde trees, but especially Taxus or Yewtree spans the crown. Of these, there are many in England, but also in France, of more than 1000 years to ages of 2500 years.

The community is thus the whole of organized protectors of not only the tree but the whole ecotope of which the tree is the central part.

A place for everyone

This is the first slogan of Wereldboom. A world tree is a tree that is always accessible to everyone. Vision is that everyone can fully experience the tree up close. We were once at the Linde of Heede, Northern Germany. Visitors did not want us to approach the tree until it was against the foot of the foot, because people’s access caused damage to the roots. Our vision is that we must take measures if too many visitors hamper the healthy growth of the tree. We did this at ” De spotted Zuiderling ” in Eindhoven. Now it is one of the most coveted wedding locations in the open air of Eindhoven.

Connect people and trees

Old rituals, like an old German tradition to party (to celebrate, dance and play music IN and at) the central Linde in the village, we would like to bring to the attention and revive.

We also want to revive an old use. Harvesting lime blossom to extract tea from it. We will combine this at the Linde of Sambeek with the pruning of the tree to feed the leaves and the branches, just like in the past, to the cattle. Leaf and branches have traditionally been an important food source in the summer, which has a major impact on the health of all animals that now mainly eat grass and corn.

The rule of thumb is that the roots reach a few meters further than the branches. But they can also grow even further if necessary and possible. The most important factors of which the sum determines this are soil type, connection to the groundwater and what the situation is in relation to the ground level. This is the biggest fight for every city tree. In addition to the space with all utilities underground and at ground level, all necessary paving for traffic and pedestrians, there is often limited space left for the tree. With a World Tree, it is a necessity that the ‘small-cycle’ can always take place in an important part of the crown projection.

This means that leaves and branches can digest on the spot, this can also be done with a design that is tight with an extremely well-cared appearance. A healthy soil life is a requirement for a tree to become ancient.