The Beginners Tree

The Redwood*. A coniferous tree standing unassumingly by a busy path in Lammas Land Park, Cambridge. Cyclists and pedestrians would meander past, busy on their way to the city or to the picturesque meadows of Grantchester (off of ITV fame). To passers by the tree wouldn’t necessarily stand out. It wasn’t obviously spectacular nor obviously grand. It wasn’t until you were stood at the base of the trunk, branches dropping down slightly and the sun hitting the firey bark that you’d appreciate its magnificence. A stairway to the sky. A series of branchy ladder rungs waiting to be pulled on.

A few little stumps here or there could be used to hang a rucksack or coat. Bicycles - the predominant mode of transport in the city - would be left strewn at the bottom, like a gang of kids abandoning everything in the excitement. At first the branches were thick - foot placement wasn’t critical. You could even slide down the tree, stomach and head first, pulling yourself closer to the ground with each branch pull, weaving between the branches and hoping gravity wasn’t suddenly going to drop you on your head.

[1] Group photo in the Redwood by Simon Byford [2] Little arms reaching out from the top [3] My good pal Shaun, the OG Cambridge tree club climber!!

The higher you got, the closer to the trunk each foot had to be placed. Careful weighting was key. An increasing number of pencil thin branches were now scattered between the holds and as your hands firmly grasped each branch ahead, you’d be avoiding the bird poo scattered along the surfaces. It was lunchtime after all and you’d soon be returning to the office. Soon you’d meet someone above you. They’d already raced to the top and coordination was now the aim of the game. A few could linger a few metres below but there was only really room for one right at the top. Here, the branches cleared and your head would pop out into the sky. The clouds would be there floating above the skyline, crows swooping past and the city laid out beneath you. Famous college buildings, historical spires and arches, viewed from an impressive piece of natural architecture. Those passers by on the footpath below looked like little ants, busy on their way, completely unaware of the tree climbers scampering above them.

The redwood held many tree climbers in the summer of 2015. Newcomers and old friends. The perfect place to be introduced to someone you’d never met and the ideal place for deep ‘campfire’ chats with good pals. This tree was the introductory tree to the Cambridge Tree Climbing Club and is a place of many fond memories. Every time I return to Cambridge I am sure to visit that laddery rung, to weave myself through its comforting arms and to see the city from a different perspective.

*Or at least, the tree we fondly called The Redwood :) In hindsight I'm not sure what species it is but apparently there are 3 species found in the UK. For anyone especially interested in redwoods, check out this awesome website logging these magnificent trees across the UK!