A-B-Tree / A-B-Craobh

Celebrating the connection between trees and writing

 

Did you know every letter of the Gaelic alphabet has an associated tree or shrub?

Click on the tree in the list below (or use the drop down menu off A-B-Tree on the left) to find out more about each tree.

Birch (B) Rowan (L) Alder (F) Willow (S) Ash (N) Hawthorn (H) Oak (D) Holly (T) Hazel (C) Bramble (M) Ivy (G) Blackthorn (P) Elder (R) Pine (A) Gorse (O) Heather (U) Aspen (E) Yew (I)

The A-B-Tree project is a celebration of the ancient cultural connection between nature and words embodied in the Gaelic Tree Alphabet. The first part of the project took people into the woods to learn about the trees. The second part of the project will share all the fascinating knowledge gathered in part 1. Follow @cybercrofter on twitter or like A-B-Tree on Facebook to find out more.

Phase 1

Phase 1 involved 18 creative events, one for each letter, using trees as inspiration for new writing. The events blended folklore and ecology, encouraging people to be playful with words during a walk in the woods.

These fun, creative events were held in woodland venues around Scotland in autumn 2011, as part of the International Year of Forests. Some were run with schools, environmental and community groups, writing groups and mental health projects and most were open to the public. They were suitable for people aged 4 upwards.

The first phase of the project was completed in autumn 2011. Thanks to everyone who came along to the events. If you would like a similar event in a wood or garden near you, please contact Mandy.

Phase 2

The second phase of the project - sharing the information that has been gathered, got underway in December 2011 with a forest of tweets! Starting on 1 December, at dusk each day, Mandy (@cybercrofter) tweeted about a tree, taking each one, in alphabetical order, and sharing some of the fascinating folklore, ecology and practical facts about the trees. Follow @cybercrofter to find out more!

This website developed at the same time - with each tree getting its own dedicated page, with photos by Bill Ritchie, an archive of all the tweeted material, some poems and more. 

There's more to come - a report of the events and guidance for people wanting to do more writing in the woods. Watch this space.

Full events listing

All events were public unless marked with *

• Alder, Tanera Mor, 5 September, 11 am
• Pine, Ledmore and Migdale, 17 September, 11 am
• * Heather, Culag Woods, 19 September, 1.30 pm
• Rowan, Little Assynt, 21 September, 5pm
• * Elder, Dochgarroch Primary School, 26 September
• Blackthorn, Abriachan Community Forest, 26 September
• * Holly, Abriachan Community Forest, 26 September
• * Hazel, Crofting Connections, Sabhal Mor Ostaig, 4 October
• Gorse, Reforesting Scotland Gathering, Croy, 8 October
• Bramble, ComrieCroft, 11 October, 5pm
• Yew, Falkland Centre for Stewardship, 12 October, 1.30pm
• Aspen, Dundreggan, Trees for Life, 13 October, 2pm
• Ivy, Forres, 26 October, 7pm
• *Ash, Alyth Primary School, 27 October
• Oak, Dawyk Botanic Garden, 28 October, 2pm
• Birch, Benmore Botanic Garden, 29 October, 2pm
• Hawthorn, Edinburgh Botanic Garden, 20 November, 2pm
• Willow, Helmsdale Timespan, 27 November, 2pm

For more information get in touch!

Email: hag@worldforests.org

Phone: 01571 844020

This project is made possible thanks to funding from the Scottish Forestry Commission and Hi-Arts.