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Respecting your elders: as a biologist, Robert Lowry is concerned that the more you learn about nature, the less you remain in touch with it. In an attempt to remedy this he has decided to try to and build a better relationship with the plants in his own garden.

Article Excerpt
I am fortunate enough to live in Devon, and at the bottom of my garden is a natural Devon bank, packed with traditional hedgerow species. Dominating them all is an Elder tree that I have been battling with for many years, hacking it back in an attempt to control its vigorous growth. But perhaps I don't show the tree enough respect. That's not to say it shouldn't be pruned, as left to its own devices it would quickly dominate the garden. But how can I do it and still remain on good terms with the tree?

I decided that my first port of call should be to trawl the internet and any books I could find regarding the spirit of trees. The general consensus of the different sources I consulted seems to be that trees possess a higher self that dwells outside our physical dimension. These were known to the ancients as 'The Hooded Ones' or 'The Many-Eyed Ones' but nowadays are better known as Tree-Spirits or Dryads. Some refer to the Elder dryad specifically as the Old Lady, the Old Girl or the Old Crone, indicating a female association with the tree.

Already this requires a leap of faith for me. Remember, I am a scientist and am trained...

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