Forester and author Peter Wohlleben is well known for his previous best-selling book The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate, which was translated from German into English in 2016.

The Heartbeat of Trees:  Embracing Our Ancient Bond with Forests and Nature is a logical follow-up to his bestseller. In this book, Wohlleben shows how humans are deeply connected to the natural world. This aspect is of particular interest to me as I have always instinctively felt a connection with the land and nature, particularly with trees. I wonder if I may have subconsciously been photographing trees for years without recognising their significance to me.

Reading Peter Wohlleben’s observations has heightened how I view and respond to trees, either when ‘meeting’ a tree who is an old friend or a new one for the first time.

In portrait or documentary photography, I find that building a relationship and showing empathy often makes for a more convincing and honest photograph. Perhaps the same is true for tree photography?