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The Secret Power of Trees

Ian Marchant explores whether trees really do have miraculous powers and whether forests are still seen as scary? From 2012.

Britain's woodlands were planted for timber or hunting but nowadays you're as likely to find ex-prisoners or mentally ill elderly folk in the woods.

With the rise of "social forestry", woodlands have come to be seen as therapeutic and healing, and not just by new age eco types. In Japan, doctors take seriously the practice of "forest air bathing", and claim all kinds of health benefits from simply being in the woods.

Ian Marchant explores whether trees really do have miraculous powers and asks what happened to the idea of forests as scary places, full of evil spirits and outlaws.

Producer: Jolyon Jenkins

First broadcast on 成人快手 Radio 4 in December 2012.

Available now

30 minutes

Last on

Thu 31 Dec 2020 02:30

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Broadcasts

  • Sat 8 Dec 2012 10:30
  • Fri 24 Mar 2017 06:30
  • Fri 24 Mar 2017 13:30
  • Fri 24 Mar 2017 20:30
  • Sat 25 Mar 2017 01:30
  • Wed 30 Dec 2020 14:30
  • Thu 31 Dec 2020 02:30

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