Depending on the species, trees have a natural lifespan from a few decades to several millennia. Some palms live only 50 years; birches, willows and fruit trees for not much longer. Beeches can live for 300 years, while oaks and pines may last as long as 500 years. The giant sequoia of California can make it to 3000 years, but the longest-lived species of all is the Great Basin Bristlecone Pine which can reach 5000 years.

Of course like us humans, not all trees reach the span of their natural life if they have been affected by disease, pests and environmental damage. And like us, as they age they experience DNA degradation, their ability to repair damage is diminished, until eventually they succumb to old age. Generally the slower growing trees live longer.  Which explains perhaps why the oldest living tree in the world is a Bristlecone Pine called ‘Methuselah’, growing in the White Mountains of Eastern California, in a secret location safe from vandalism.  Its great age makes it a valuable subject for studying past climate conditions, and its longevity is attributed to its dense resinous wood and its ability to thrive in harsh conditions, including extreme cold, dry soils and high winds.

This month one of our Tree Trust members turned 95, older than an apple tree, still turning up every week to clean pots and manage the watering system, still an essential part of our team.  ‘The world is OK when old people plant trees in the shade of which they know they will never sit.’ It’s nice to think that the trees we plant will be around for our great grandchildren to enjoy.