IT’S NATIONAL TREE WEEK!

It is currently National Tree Week, 26th November – 4th December, the largest UK annual tree celebration which marks the start of the annual tree planting season. This year’s theme is ‘Hidden Connections’, focusing on what happens out of sight underground, whether that be roots or the insanely amazing fungal networks – mycorrhiza.

It is such a fantastic celebration and trees really do so much for us, so in return we need to look after and respect them. It shouldn’t come as a surprise that trees are what inspired Tree Tents in the first place, you don’t have to look far to see that… it’s in our name!

We’re passionate about connecting people with the great outdoors and creating opportunities to disconnect from the pace of modern life. We see trees as a great way of helping us achieve this. Our glamping structures are inspired by nature, designed to blend seamlessly with their environment and enhance the freedom that comes from camping in the wild as well as being up in the canopy.

We also love learning about how amazing trees are and what they do for us flesh and blood humans. Did you know that in Japan forest therapy is standard preventive medicine? The Japanese term shinrin-yoku means taking in the forest atmosphere or ‘forest bathing’ and people are encouraged to visit forests to relieve stress and improve health. Based on ancient Shinto and Buddhist practices, research has found that the practice has measurable health benefits, which include lower blood pressure, reduced stress, lower blood sugar, improved concentration, diminished pain, improved immunity, less depression, increased vitality, better concentration, and increased creativity. Here at Tree Tents we can’t agree more about the magic of bathing in our wonderful woodlands.

But we can keep going! Research has also shown how exposure to forests boosts our immune system. While we breathe in the fresh air, we breathe in phytoncides – airborne chemicals that plants give off to protect themselves from insects. Phytoncides have antibacterial and antifungal qualities that help plants fight disease. When we breathe in these chemicals our bodies respond by increasing the number and activity of a type of white blood cell that has been found to kill tumours and virus infected cells in our bodies. 

There are so many benefits for being out in the woodland including just the simplicity of doing nothing and our structures have been designed to help you achieve this. People want to get out and enjoy nature so maybe investing in a unique structure that works with our amazing ecosystems without harming them is the way forward?

When choosing woodland structures it is important to consider that you will often be dealing with difficult ground that can range from flat to sloping. Choosing a structure that is suspended between the trees, such as our Tree Tent, can be a solution – flexible design allows installation in areas that were once believed to be economically unviable. But if you don’t  have the trees then we can offer our cabin designs that are designed to tackle any terrain including the option of the height of the stilts they sit on or decking that has been designed especially for the site. 

Our suspended Tree Tent is positioned among the branches of a tree and actively moves with it, but in a nice gentle way. The cherry on top is the integrated clear skylight domes that bring in the natural light and allow for stargazing at night. Our cabin structures, The Fuselage and Birdhouse, have massive windows where you can sit back and look out at the beautiful surroundings while staying cosy with a cup of tea in hand perhaps?

Spending time around trees and looking at trees reduces stress, lowers blood pressure and improves mood. Numerous studies show that both exercising in forests and simply sitting looking at trees reduces blood pressure as well as the stress-related hormones cortisol and adrenaline, so let’s get out there!

It is great that we celebrate trees and have National Tree Week, granted our structures are very much above ground enjoying the sights, but we are proud that they support and do not harm what is going on under our feet as well as what is happening at ground level.

We want to encourage and give people the option of enjoying what mother nature gives us. If you have some unused space and want to invest in a new adventure, contact us on info@treetents.co.uk and we’ll be very happy to advise and send over any information to get one of our structures up and running!