AACT’s campaign to protect the trees in the Astley Ainslie, spearheaded by trustee Maggie Carson, is spreading far and wide. Maggie’s work to connect with others who are working on similar projects lead to an introduction to Glasgow-based Jessica and her project, ‘Stories of people and trees’. Maggie was delighted to meet up with Jessica in July and had the opportunity to show her round the hospital grounds and introduce her to some of our favourite trees.

Maggie and Jessica had a lovely morning, despite the rain, hearing from each other about their respective projects and discussing amongst other things the importance of recognising the history that these trees have witnessed in their time and the very human connection in the form of the wellbeing benefits they have conferred on us (patients and the wider community). To get a taste of these benefits, check out our short film documentaries showing the stories of people who have lived, recovered, and worked at—or simply enjoyed—the Astley Ainslie site.

Jessica’s project, ‘Stories of people and trees,’ involves collecting stories from individuals about the trees that are important to them. This immediately put Maggie in mind of the tree befriending stories so many of you have shared with with AACT over the past year, some of which we have turned into posters. If you’d like to add your story to the mix - Jessica is happy to receive a written story from you or arrange to meet up and record your story which she would then transcribe. If you would like to contribute to Jessica’s project email her (storiesofpeopleandtrees@gmail.com) and you can find examples of these tree stories on her website.

Maggie was reminded of her project during a spell of hot weather when she met a woman walking her dog in the Astley Ainslie. Maggie, who was brambling, got chatting with the dog walker as they both enjoyed some shade beneath the trees. She learnt that the woman had been caring for one of the Council’s recently planted trees in the Grange by watering it regularly and that her brother was doing the same in Warrender Park. Now that is a tree story in the making and an act of befriending we can celebrate!