Do trees have souls? One of Britain's most famous trees has been cut down in the middle of the night. Thousands of people are sad and angry. Why do they care so much about a tree?
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Outpouring of sadness over felled sycamore
Do trees have souls? One of Britain's most famous trees has been cut down in the middle of the night. Thousands of people are sad and angry. Why do they care so much about a tree?
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What's happening?
As soon as Ian Sproat heard the news, he rushed to the place where the tree used to stand. "Anger set in, and now sadness," he said. "My heart was ripped out."
Until last week, the tree stood beside Hadrian's WallA 73-mile stone wall that crosses from the west to the east of the UK. It was built during the Roman Empire. in a dip between two hills - a place named SycamoreA type of large tree. Gap in its honour. People came from all over the UK to look at the view.
Two people have been arrestedStopped by the police and taken to a police station. after the tree was cut down. One was a boy of 16 and the other was a man aged 60.
Some people hope that the tree could grow again. Others think it should be replaced by an older tree.
But expertsSomeone who knows a lot about a particular subject. say there is no way to quickly replace the tree. It would take hundreds of years for a new tree to grow to the same size.
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Some people think the gap should stay empty - as a reminder of the tree and the importance of nature.
Humans have always believed that trees are special. In Ancient GreeceAbout 2,500 years ago, Greece was one of the most important places in the world. Ancient Greeks lived all around the Mediterranean, not just in Greece., trees were thought to have soulsIn many religious and philosophical traditions, the soul is part of a person, often separate from our bodies, which contain our essence. that existed as spirits. One Roman leader ordered that no tree could be cut down without an offering to the gods.
Today, followers of HinduismAn Indian religion or way of life. Hinduism has 1.2 billion followers, or 15% of all people worldwide. believe that anything that lives has a soul.
One writer even argues that some souls choose to live in trees instead of human bodies.
Today, scientists know that trees can send each other information through a network of fungiFungi are a group of living things including mold, mushrooms, and yeast. They eat organic material - usually dead things, like fallen trees and old fruit - and reproduce by spreading spores. in the soil. They call it the "Wood Wide Web".
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Do trees have souls?
Yes! Trees are beautiful. Many live for much longer than us. Of course such wonderful beings would have souls.
No! This is a very silly idea. Today, we know lots about the science behind plants. We have no reason to think that plants have souls.
Keywords
Hadrian's Wall - A 73-mile stone wall that crosses from the west to the east of the UK. It was built during the Roman Empire.
Sycamore - A type of large tree.
Arrested - Stopped by the police and taken to a police station.
Experts - Someone who knows a lot about a particular subject.
Ancient Greece - About 2,500 years ago, Greece was one of the most important places in the world. Ancient Greeks lived all around the Mediterranean, not just in Greece.
Souls - In many religious and philosophical traditions, the soul is part of a person, often separate from our bodies, which contain our essence.
Hinduism - An Indian religion or way of life. Hinduism has 1.2 billion followers, or 15% of all people worldwide.
Fungi - Fungi are a group of living things including mold, mushrooms, and yeast. They eat organic material - usually dead things, like fallen trees and old fruit - and reproduce by spreading spores.
Outpouring of sadness over felled sycamore
No-more sycamore: The tree was featured in the film Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves. Glossary
Hadrian's Wall - A 73-mile stone wall that crosses from the west to the east of the UK. It was built during the Roman Empire.
Sycamore - A type of large tree.
Arrested - Stopped by the police and taken to a police station.
Experts - Someone who knows a lot about a particular subject.
Ancient Greece - About 2,500 years ago, Greece was one of the most important places in the world. Ancient Greeks lived all around the Mediterranean, not just in Greece.
Souls - In many religious and philosophical traditions, the soul is part of a person, often separate from our bodies, which contain our essence.
Hinduism - An Indian religion or way of life. Hinduism has 1.2 billion followers, or 15% of all people worldwide.
Fungi - Fungi are a group of living things including mold, mushrooms, and yeast. They eat organic material - usually dead things, like fallen trees and old fruit - and reproduce by spreading spores.