FW002 — Expedition
Can forests communicate?
Podcast · 42 min
In conversation with Professor Sarah Jones
The Question
If trees exchange signals through fungal networks, our definitions of individual and community may need to change.
The Researcher
Sarah Jones has been mapping mycorrhizal networks across British woodlands since 2004.
The Research
Her group has documented chemical signalling that crosses canopy gaps of up to forty metres.
In Practice
The Forestry Commission has begun consulting her team on planting patterns for climate-resilient woodland.
What's Next
A five-year study of urban tree networks begins next spring.
Further Reading
- Entangled LifeMerlin Sheldrake
- The Hidden Life of TreesPeter Wohlleben
Field Notes
“Changed how we think about thinning entirely.”
J. Bell · Woodland manager
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