If Trees Could Talk
{{Short description|2019 book by Holly Worton}}
{{Orphan|date=January 2022}}
{{About-distinguish-text|the book|the music band If These Trees Could Talk}}
{{infobox book
| name = If Trees Could Talk
| author = Holly Worton
| illustrator =
| language = English
| country = United Kingdom, United States of America
| genre = Tree lore, Spirituality, Self-help
| published = 12 April 2019
| publisher = Tribal Publishing
| isbn = 1911161245
| title_orig =
| translator =
| image = If_Trees_Could_Talk_book_cover_by_Holly_Worton.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Book cover
| cover_artist =
| series =
| release_date =
| media_type = Print (Paperback) & E-book.
| pages = 324
| preceded_by =
| followed_by =
| website = https://www.hollyworton.com/
}}
If Trees Could Talk: Life Lessons from the Wisdom of the Woods is a non-fiction book by American author{{cite web
| author = Gibbons
| first = Lottie
| last2 = Rodger
| first2 = James
| title = Bizarre moment This Morning sound man interrupts show and walks on set - leaving viewers baffled
| work = Birmingham Mail
| date = 6 May 2019
| url = https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/bizarre-moment-morning-sound-man-16235320
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190507150945/https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/showbiz-tv/bizarre-moment-morning-sound-man-16235320
| archive-date = 7 May 2019
| url-status = live
| access-date = 7 May 2019
}} and podcaster, Holly Worton{{cite web
| author = Worton
| first = Holly
| title = Holly Worton: Author & Podcaster
| date = 2019
| url = https://www.hollyworton.com/
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190507154437/https://www.hollyworton.com/
| archive-date = 7 May 2019
| url-status = live
| access-date = 7 May 2019
}} that offers spirituality and self-help through making contact with nature and talking to trees.{{cite web
| author = Worton
| first = Holly
| title = Books: Holly Worton: Author & Podcaster
| date = 2019
| url = http://www.hollyworton.com/books/
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190507154702/http://www.hollyworton.com/books/
| archive-date = 7 May 2019
| url-status = live
| access-date = 7 May 2019
| author = O'Sullivan
| first = Kyle
| title = This Morning guest talks to trees - and sound man is forced into humiliating job
| work = Daily Mirror
| date = 6 May 2019
| url = https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/morning-guest-talks-trees-sound-15004241
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190507145449/https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/morning-guest-talks-trees-sound-15004241
| archive-date = 7 May 2019
| url-status = live
| access-date = 7 May 2019
}}
Summary
Part self-help and part spiritual, Worton's If Trees Could Talk is a guide to taking time out to connect with nature, talk to trees, and to live a happier and more fulfilled life.{{cite news
| author = Rice
| first = Carole Ann
| title = Happy Mondays
| newspaper = Daily Express
| publisher = Northern & Shell
| location = London
| date = 13 May 2019
| page = 14
}} The author, who lives in England, believes that "all trees are living, breathing organisms that humans can connect with and talk to on a deeper level through silent, telepathic communication."{{cite interview
| last = Worton
| first = Holly
| interviewer = Eamonn Holmes, Rochelle Humes
| title = Did you know that trees can talk?
| url = https://www.itv.com/thismorning/hot-topics/meet-the-woman-who-can-talk-to-trees
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190507142919/https://www.itv.com/thismorning/hot-topics/meet-the-woman-who-can-talk-to-trees
| archive-date = 7 May 2019
| url-status = live
| publisher = ITV
| location = United Kingdom
| date = 6 May 2019
| work = This Morning
| access-date = 7 May 2019
}}
A druid, coach and healer, Worton writes about the individual trees she has encountered on her many nature walks – each with their own history, character, personality, and story; and she describes the different species of trees, and their place and reverence in pagan ways, such as that of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, and the ancient alphabet, the ogham which ascribes a tree to each letter. The book is structured around this description, the stories that each individual tree has to tell, and the advice they have to offer.
Interviews
File:The Allerton Oak, Calderstones Park (geograph 4708906).jpg
On 6 May 2019, Worton was interviewed on ITV's programme This Morning by television presenters Eamonn Holmes and Rochelle Humes, to talk about her new book.{{cite web
| author = Staff
| title = Meet the Woman Who Can Talk to Trees
| work = This Morning
| date = 6 May 2019
| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-pCEOHtD7E
| access-date = 7 May 2019
}} In a garden outside the television studios, she also gave the presenters a practical demonstration of how she communicates with trees, with the aid of a sound engineer.
On 26 February 2020, Worton was again interviewed on This Morning, by Alison Hammond and Phillip Schofield, discussing the Allerton Oak, the UK's nomination for the European Tree of the Year competition, and communicating with it.{{cite interview
| last = Worton
| first = Holly
| interviewer = Alison Hammond, Phillip Schofield
| title = Alison 'interviews a tree' as she meets UK hopeful for European Tree of the Year
| url = https://www.itv.com/thismorning/hot-topics/the-european-tree-of-the-year-competition-has-a-uk-nominee
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200227154234/https://www.itv.com/thismorning/hot-topics/the-european-tree-of-the-year-competition-has-a-uk-nominee
| archive-date = 27 February 2020
| url-status = live
| publisher = ITV
| location = United Kingdom
| date = 26 February 2020
| work = This Morning
| access-date = 27 February 2020
| author = Staff
| title = Alison Hammond Interviews A Tree... No, Really
| work = This Morning
| date = 26 February 2020
| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiX_2s3-vI8
| access-date = 27 February 2020
}}
Reception
The televised item on This Morning attracted a largely humorous and dismissive response in the social media, and was reported in several newspapers, including the Daily Mirror, the Birmingham Mail, and Entertainment Daily.{{cite web
| author = Staff
| title = Viewers left in hysterics as Eamonn Holmes 'talks to trees' on This Morning
| publisher = Digitalbox Publishing Ltd
| work = Entertainment Daily
| date = 6 May 2019
| url = https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/daytime-tv/this-morning/viewers-left-in-hysterics-as-eamonn-holmes-talks-to-trees-on-this-morning/
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190507150435/https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/daytime-tv/this-morning/viewers-left-in-hysterics-as-eamonn-holmes-talks-to-trees-on-this-morning/
| archive-date = 7 May 2019
| url-status = live
| access-date = 7 May 2019
}}
Writing in the Daily Express on 13 May 2019, life coach and columnist, Carole Ann Rice is, however, more positive about the book. She describes If Trees Could Talk as "a wise and beautiful book coming at the right time for many of us." "Stop rushing, be patient, respect nature, stray from your normal path, be mindful, ask permission [to communicate with the trees]" – these, the reviewer says, are a few of the things that we can learn from the trees, and she advises the reader to "show love and respect to what grows around you" and to "learn some true lessons from the wild side of life."
About the author
Originally from California in the United States, Worton has lived in Spain, Costa Rica, Mexico and Chile before moving to England. She is an author and podcaster, as well as a druid, coach and healer.
See also
References
External links
- [https://www.hollyworton.com/ Author's web site]
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-pCEOHtD7E Interview on This Morning]
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Category:2019 non-fiction books