What trees can teach us about wellbeing

​Ok Ok Ok I admit it... I am completely obsessed with trees at the moment!!!  In the last few months I have read The Overstory, Our Oaken Bones, The Lost Rainforests of Britain, The Genius of Trees and am in the middle of How to read a tree.... Yup... obsessed seems to be the right word!!!
 
Why you might ask?  There are a number of reasons but one of the main ones is the fact that trees have played a HUGE part in my wellbeing over the last decade and probably much longer if I care to think back over my life.  In Jersey I fell in love with a wonderful Holme Oak that clinged on to the edge of the coastal path that I walked every day.  I called it the Three sisters as it had 3 distinct parts to it’s trunk.  I had a greeting ritual with each part… one I would hug – yes I am THAT person!!! – one I would stroke the flattest part and one I would stare into knots that looked like a pair of eyes.  I would chat to that tree – it became my friend… Now you may well want to stop reading at this point and think that I’ve lost the plot – fair enough… and I also invite you to stick with me a bit longer just in case!!! 
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Why are we drawn to trees?
So what is it about trees? Why do they feel like companions rather than just plants?  From an anthropological point of view humans are very well adapted to living amongst the trees.  For most of our species’ history, humans lived in close relationship with wooded landscapes. Trees offered shelter, fuel, food, medicine and protection.  Research in human evolution and archaeology shows that trees have been steady companions in our story as a species… which may help explain why being among them feels grounding and so many of us are drawn to them.

Another explanation is the idea of ‘biophilia’ – our innate attraction to living systems & our tendency to seek connection with the natural world.  Think about our love of gardens, indoor plants, pets, views of the sea, mountains etc.  From an evolutionary biological standpoint it makes sense when you think that those ancestors that were closer to the natural world were probably more likely to survive… knowing where to find food, water & safety.

Environmental psychologist Miles Richardson, who leads research on nature connectedness at the University of Derby, describes nature connection as a “simple, yet powerful pathway to wellbeing.” His research shows that people who feel emotionally connected to nature experience greater life satisfaction, vitality and pro-environmental behaviours. In other words, when we nourish our relationship with the natural world, both we and the wider system benefit.

What trees teach us about wellbeing
In Temperate Atlantic rainforests in the UK (YES we have rainforests right here!!) a single oak can support more than 300 different life forms... from lichens and mosses to insects, birds and mammals. It offers shelter, food, structure and stability. But what we see above ground is only half the story. Beneath the soil lies a vast mycelial network… fungi entwined with roots, quietly exchanging nutrients, information and support. As forester Peter Wohlleben writes in The Hidden Life of Trees, forests are less like collections of individuals and more like communities in conversation.

And this is where the metaphor matters... Human wellbeing works in much the same way. What’s visible, things like productivity, performance, even happiness, is the canopy. It’s what others see. But those outcomes depend entirely on what’s happening underground. The invisible foundations. The nutrients. The relationships. The conditions that allow us to thrive.
If we want the canopy to flourish, we have to tend the roots.

The Roots: PERMA-V and Beyond
In positive psychology, Martin Seligman’s PERMA model offers five key ingredients for a flourishing life:

P - Positive Emotion
E - Engagement
R - Relationships
M - Meaning
A - Accomplishment

Later developments have added V for Vitality, recognising the embodied nature of wellbeing. And the importance of energy, sleep, movement and physiological balance to our flourishing.  I often extend this further with an N for Nature.  Going back to the work of Richardson it seems like I’m stating the bleedin’ obvious that N needs to be part of this theory… how could it not be!  These are, in many ways, our root systems. They are not always visible but they quietly determine what grows above ground.

So, if these are the roots… How nourished are yours?  Looking at these ingredients, where do you feel satisfied?  Where might something need attention?  And what small shift could begin to feed that area?
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The importance of wellbeing way beyond the individual
The mycelial network beneath trees redistributes nutrients from strong areas to weaker ones. Old trees can feed saplings. Signals travel underground to warn of pests. The health of one affects the health of many.
Our personal wellbeing operates in similar systems. Families, teams, communities and organisations are interconnected networks. When one person is depleted, reactive or burnt out, that state travels. When someone is grounded, purposeful and well-resourced, that travels too.

Research in social contagion theory shows that emotions and behaviours ripple through networks. Happiness spreads. So does stress. Wellbeing, then, is not just an individual pursuit… it is relational and systemic.
This is why coaching focused solely on goals can miss the point. If the roots are dry, no amount of pruning the branches will create sustainable growth.  It’s also why we go beyond the individual when we look at impact.  What impact does your ‘self care’ have on those around you?

All of a sudden wellbeing becomes a community necessity as opposed to a nice to have or even worse, a selfish pursuit. 

And yet….
That said, all models - PERMA-V-N included - need to be held lightly.  Just as physical health models provide guidelines but not guarantees, wellbeing frameworks are maps… they are not the territory. What energises one person may exhaust another. Some thrive on achievement; others on contribution. Some restore themselves in solitude; others in community.

Even nature connection looks different across cultures, geographies and life stages. As Richardson’s research emphasises, it’s the quality of connection that matters. Noticing beauty, feeling part of something larger not just ticking off time outdoors.  Frameworks, models & guidelines are helpful lenses. They are not prescriptions.

Tending the Roots
Perhaps the more useful question is not “Am I optimising all elements of PERMA?” but “What do my roots need right now?”

• More rest?
• More meaning?
• More honest conversation?
• More time under open sky or with the trees?
• Fewer commitments?
• A different pace?

Wellbeing is less about constant growth and more about cyclical tending… like the seasons in a forest. There are times for expansion and times for restoration.

As the poet Wendell Berry reminds us, “The earth is what we all have in common.” When we remember that we are part of living systems, not separate from them… our approach to wellbeing might shift. It becomes less about self-improvement and more about tending the ecosystem we’re part of.  So... my invitation is to: 

• Nourish the roots.
• Tend the network.
• Remember you are part of the forest... The canopy will take care of itself! 

I'd love to hear your thoughts or reflections from this - do feel free to ping me a message!