The 21st March is the United Nations 'International Day of Forests', which aims to raise awareness around the importance of trees to our climate, our ecology and our food. It is also the UK 'National Tree Week' 27th November - 5th December 2023.
Discussion questions
Who likes walking in the woods or a forest? What is the best time to go - when the bluebells are out, when it's hot and dry, or when the autumn colours are at their most beautiful?
Who remembers climbing a tree when they were young? Did anyone fall out of one?
Did anyone carve their name in bark?
Did anyone have a treehouse or den?
Hands up if you played a game of conkers? How do you make a winning conker?
Who likes having a log fire, indoors or outdoors? Don't forget to check for hedgehogs!
Has anyone a favourite tree or wood or forest? Where is it?
Has anyone a favourite fruit or nut which grows on trees?
Idioms
Ask members to complete these well known phrases together ...
Knock on WOOD
Chip off the old BLOCK
Thick as two short PLANKS
The apple doesn’t fall far from the TREE
Turn over a new LEAF
Beat around the BUSH
Can't see the wood for the TREES
Put down ROOTS
Low hanging FRUIT
I don't give a FIG
The fruits of your LABOUR
A plum JOB
Barking up the wrong TREE
A hard nut to CRACK
Second bite of the CHERRY
The apple of your EYE
Peaches and CREAM
Money doesn’t grow on TREES
A bird in the hand is worth two in the BUSH
Nip something in the BUD
Sleep like a LOG
Touch WOOD
Spitting SAWDUST
Quiz
 | In which garden did Adam and Eve sin & what forbidden fruit did they eat? |
 | Which Bible story saw a dove finding land & which leaf was it carrying? |
 | Which king hid in a tree in the 'Battle Of Worcester' in 1651 & what type of tree was it? |
 | Trees that lose their leaves in the autumn (or fall) are called what? What are those which keep their leaves called? |
 | What makes leaves change colour in the fall? |
 | What is the biggest tree in the world? What is it's proper name? |
 | What percentage of the oxygen we breathe comes from the Amazon rainforest (nearest guess)? (They also absorb much of the carbon dioxide we produce.) |
 | Beavers are being reintroduced to many parts of the UK. How do they help the environment? |
 | The Japanese art of keeping miniature trees is called what? (Has anyone kept one?) |
 | What is the art of shaping bushes and trees into different forms called? |
 | Which country gives Trafalgar Square its Christmas tree each year (as a thank you for the UK armed forces assistance in World War 11)? |
 | Where, in Kenya, did Elizabeth learn that her father had died and she was now Queen (6th February 1952)? |
 | Who climbed up the beanstalk & what did the Giant say? What breakfast cereal is this an advert for? |
 | What did the Three Wise Monkeys say? |
 | Which folk hero lived in a forest & which forest was it? Who is this actor? TV theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JErQMxqvfBU |
 | Name this jungle living folk hero & his monkey and girlfriend? Can anyone make his call? TV theme - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cribX-s2IE&t=46s |
 | What is a person who fells trees and cuts logs called (especially in America)? |
Comedy sketch 'I'm A Lumberjack', Monty Python - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FshU58nI0Ts
Which actors are playing the lumberjack and his girlfriend?
Famous woody people
Can you name these famous woody characters or celebrities and say what they are famous for?
Tree dwellers
Name these tree dwellers + answer the associated questions ...
In which country do these black and white bears live & what do they exclusively eat?
How many toes on each foot do they usually have?
Which 1978 Clint Eastwood movie starred one of these primates (named Clyde)?
In which country does this bear live & what do they exclusively eat (I bet their breath smells great!)?
How much, in terms of DNA, are we alike (nearest guess)?
Which island country are these primates native to?
True or False. This creature is the only flying mammal?
True or False. They swallow their food whole?
How do they help with forestry?
Name the cartoon character associated with this bird & make his call?
What is a group of these called?
Name the cartoon character associated with this animal & what breakfast cereal did he advertise?
Classic TV clips
'Gerald The Gorilla', from 'Not The Nine O'Clock News' - https://fb.watch/lx3bS0JXOa/
'Life On Earth' (David Attenborough) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czgc56Vfz4w
'PG Tips' advert - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3F0nnPHyWo
'Panorama' April fool's joke - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8scpGwbvxvI
'Panda play' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9E1GM5GoP8
Things trees provide us with
Trees provide us with valuable resources. Name the trees & products ...
+ answer the following questions ...
What country & product is this tree associated with?
What would you do with these leaves?
Which chocolate bar is associated with this fruit?
True or False. Children had to learn how to eat these after the Second World War?
Which festive season is this spice associated with?
Which Italian liqueur does this spice flavour (it begins with a three letter name)?
How many apples does it take to make a pint of cider?
What colour plastic wrapper is used for Brazil nuts in a tin of 'Quality Street'?
Which vitamin is prominent in citrus fruits?
How did we used to eat these fruits?
What is the health benefit associated with eating these?
Which biscuits are these fruits associated with?
Here are a few more natural resources trees provide us with. Can members think of any more?
Complete this rhyme with members shouting out the bells ...
Other recognisable trees
Name these trees + answer the following questions ...
What do the Japanese call this revered blossom?
Which jungle animal is this tree named after?
Which emotion is this tree associated with?
Complete this well known saying, "Great **** from little ****** grow."
Who likes to eat these roasted?
Which season is this bush associated with?
You can make wine from this flower?
Name this Christmas tree?
Many of us have this colour paint of our walls?
What did we used to call these seed pods?
Which insect is this bush associated with?
Ellie Brooks had a 1981 hit single with this flower in the title?
Can anyone think of any more? Make a list ...
Factoid
"The Forest Man Of India" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06S3tQ6n4OM
How one man can make a world of difference and a different world.
Jadav Payeng is the subject of a short documentary called 'Forest Man'. Over 37 years, he planted a tree every day, creating a beautiful forest out of what was once a barren sandbar.
Name the tree & see how many of the birds you can name?
Woody music
'Trail Of The Lonesome Pine', Laurel & Hardy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qApsAPnoH7c
In which state are the 'Blue Ridge Mountains'?
'Annie's Song', John Denver - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C21G2OkHEYo
In which US state is Denver?
'Don't Sit Under The Apple Tree', The Beverly Sisters - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcyiC79l910
What is a collection of apple trees called?
'Ebony And Ivory', Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXAlfh6QKQs
What are ebony and ivory?
'Evergreen', Barbra Streisand - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=udLeOOy6em4
Which 1976 movie did this song feature in?
'Norwegian Woord', The Beatles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_V6y1ZCg_8
What is the capital city of Norway?
'Willow', Joan Armatrading - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hV0rhsMAiKM
Which children's TV presenter was Joan Armatrading rumoured to have had a relationship with?
'Knock On Wood', Amii Stewart - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKuJUxGntRI
What else would you do with wood for good luck?
'Hounds Of Love', Kate Bush ("It's in the trees, incoming.") - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VerK4zwMRQw
With which song off this 1985 album did Kate Bush have a worldwide number one last year?
'California Dreaming', Mamas & Papas - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N-aK6JnyFmk
What is the name of the bridge that crosses San Fransisco Bay?
'Autumn Leaves', Eva Cassidy - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXBNlApwh0c
Her hit song 'Songbird' was a copy of a Fleetwood Mac song from which of their albums?
'Wild Wood', Paul Weller - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EgIw51zmiy8
Which band was Paul Weller lead singer with?
Final singalongs