The Science and Soul of Trees
Exploring the evidence and experience of nature’s quiet medicine
When I step into the forest with a group, there’s often a moment where someone pauses by a fallen tree, running their hand along the roots stretched out like open fingers. They’ll ask quietly, “Is it still alive?” That question opens a doorway into both the science of trees and the deeper sense of soul we feel when we slow down in their presence.
For decades, scientists believed trees were solitary beings. Now we know they are part of vast underground networks, communicating through fungal threads that connect root systems. These mycorrhizal networks allow trees to share nutrients, warn each other of pests, and even support weaker neighbours.
Biologist Suzanne Simard calls this the wood wide web. Her research shows mother trees sending carbon and water to younger saplings, ensuring the survival of the forest as a whole. Studies also reveal that the chemical compounds trees release, known as phytoncides, boost our immune systems, lower cortisol, and calm our nervous system. Simply breathing in the forest air is a physiological act of wellbeing.
And yet science is only part of the story. The experience of being with trees tells us something deeper. When guiding nature based wellbeing experiences, I often notice participants soften when they sit with a tree, as if the quiet presence of something so ancient invites them to lay down their own burdens.
One woman told me that leaning her back against a marri felt like “sitting with a wise elder.” Another described the relief of realising she didn’t have to do anything or be anything, the tree simply welcomed her as she was.
These embodied moments cannot be captured in data, yet they are what bring the science to life. Knowing that trees are in constant dialogue below the soil deepens our sense that we too are part of a web of belonging.
We live in an age where stress, loneliness, and disconnection are woven through daily life. Spending time with trees offers more than a pleasant escape. It restores our nervous system, reminds us of interconnection, and awakens a felt sense of belonging to something greater than ourselves.
Research validates what many of us intuitively know: nature is not separate from us. Forest bathing practices that draw on this science, slowing down, engaging the senses, and resting with trees, are increasingly used to support mental health, resilience, and recovery.
Next time you walk in the bush, pause beside a tree. Notice its roots, its bark, the way it leans into the light. Imagine the invisible threads beneath the soil, carrying messages and nourishment. Breathe deeply and allow yourself to be held in that quiet companionship.
The science tells us this is good for our health. The soul tells us it is good for our hearts.