This Magic Yellow Tree Rapidly Restores Dead Land

[@LeaveCurious]

Want to restore the planet's ecosystems and see your impact in monthly videos? The first 150 people to join Planet Wild will get the first month for free at planetwild.com/r/leavecurious/join/211 or use my code CURIOUS211 later.

[@Sznupek-b4p]

Hats off to you Rob! Im so happy to see your colab with Planet Wild, you two are my favs! 🎉🎉🎉

[@jamesbarry1673]

Isn't nature wonderful?🎉🎉🎉

[@Davidpa79]

Just joined, Thanks for the free month.

[@monikadeinbeck4760]

In Germany Aspen is still common. It doesn't build stands because there are too many other competing tree species around. We even have a proverb, "tremble like aspen leaves".

[@pippastar1606]

was just going to say they're here in Germany. I love them - adore the autumnal yellow leaves.

[@lesterstanden2435]

The scientific name is Populus Tremula of an obvious reason and the North American species is Populus Tremuloides.

[@ajaxtelamonian5134]

Lol I'm English and use that loads had no idea it was a German thing.

[@toyotaprius79]

Crazy ironic that so much Aspen trees were cut down along side rivers because of the "tidiness" lie or for the fact that the trees were risking the roads or rail embankments when they act as natural flood defences with their many runners through a broad root system and their high inclination to very wet conditions

[@aqua_riumplant]

I love Aspen :3 This summer I collected aspen branches that broke off during a storm and put them in a bucket with water, willow cuttings and an aquarium airstone. They cuttings didn't root, but after one week I planted them anyways, and they actually managed to grow a few leaves before winter :D

[@louislamonte334]

Thrilled to see these exquisite, beautiful trees are coming back!! The Aspens are truly magnificent!! I long to see the day when the empty, dead spaces of Scotland are blessed with Aspens and so many other tree species again! Your videos are always a joy and inspiration!! I hope you and your lovely family are well, my friend!

[@Solstice261]

The loss of aspen is the saddest thing that happened to scotland and it's great to see it coming back few things are as beautiful as standing in an aspen stand hearing that sound

[@MaurieDeaton]

I had many, many “trembling Aspen” on my property in northern British Columbia, Canada. They are lovely trees. I miss them, now that I live in Mexico now. It’s hard to imagine them being at risk, they are so plentiful where I lived. Thank you for your work and your passion!

[@LeaveCurious]

I'd love to visit Canada... maybe try and grow some on your property in a small way?

[@threeriversforge1997]

One thing I'm reminded of is how the old bodgers and hedge-layers used to care for the woods and make sure the stands were healthy because they had a financial incentive -- those woods were their livelihood. Today, folks are so disconnected from the idea that they just don't care. They see themselves as apart from nature rather than a part of nature. Everything we buy is mass-produced chintz, but if you go back even 75 years, it used to be that local craftsmen made good for local sale from local materials. They tended the woodlands, keeping things clean and harvesting on rotation so there was always stuff growing healthy. Willow was used for making all sorts of containers, and was a cash crop small families could rely on even in bad times. Hazel was used to make gates and fences and houses were outfitted with cupboards and tables made from larger trees that had to be felled. On and on it went, the people tending the land as the land tended the people. Nowadays, folks are enamored with the foreign, thinking that something made in some far off place must be better simply because it's from somewhere "exotic". They buy all their stuff in a big box store, demanding the lowest price possible while also insisting that they themselves get paid as much as possible. There's no balance, and that's reflected in nature.

[@DavidS5118]

Having visited the Pando Aspen tree grove in Utah is one of the most incredibly beautiful sites to see, especially in Autumn when the colors are changing.

[@voidoccupant]

Other than Oaks, there really isn't any tree species with more character than a Quaking Aspen, wonderful beings.

[@LeaveCurious]

Totally agree

[@BRUHCMON123]

Ive got a few aspen trees near my home and although they are quite young (20-25 yrs), their trunks are HUGE. When i was little i called them "elephants foot", since they are grey, smooth and widen up at the very bottom. Lovely tree

[@richardgaspar4590]

Aspen reminds me of white poplars here, they spread with suckering and grow into these beautiful mini forests.

[@u92element4]

good spot, aspens are actually in the poplar genus

[@jamesbarry1673]

Isn't the largest living entity on the planet a large Aspen stand??

[@ashleys6146]

Pando

[@Mrbfgray]

Seems so, at least to best of our current understanding. IDK if fungus could be a contender also.

[@Solstice261]

Second , the first is a mushroom's and recently it snatched the title of oldest

[@Solstice261]

​@@Mrbfgraya funguss has the title of largest organism, that was already done they both sort of share the title guven that it's harder to see micellia

[@voidoccupant]

@@Solstice261 I think your talking about the Humongous Fungus from Oregon, which is believed to cover 2,200 acres and weigh up to about 70 million pounds, compared to Pando's 107 acres and weight of 13 million pounds, Pando is significantly older tho. However the Mycologist researching the fungi aren't sure if it is one massive organism or multiple smaller ones that just seem connected.

[@pencilpauli9442]

Do you think that the landlord made upland deserts, are perceived to be "natural" is a problem. Was thinking about this the other day in response to your video about the Hadrian's Wall sycamore felling. There was a video about the preliminary hearing of the two men accused of felling the tree, and the emotional response that got my mind wondering.

[@LeaveCurious]

yes, i think sadly many of brits do not question why theres little to no native tree cover across all of our national parks. accepting a heavily degraded landscape as natural is a big problem.

[@morgansmith1930]

Northwest Norfolk, here, and we've got quite a few aspens growing along the Wissey cutoff channel near our village! The bright yellow in the autumn is so beautiful, it's almost unreal. I'd love to see more of it about. Great video!

[@Mrbfgray]

At a surface level from across the lake--seems the UK should have a massive reforestation policy. All that barren land just seems wrong. Deer hunting would be good, probably even for the deer ultimately. Big predators also, but none of that seems to be palatable there?

[@lesterstanden2435]

The biggest problem with hunting deer is that it's controlled by the landowners and generally they think the more deer the better. The biggest obstacle to predator introduction is sheep farming. There are no big spaces away from sheep farms and sporting estates to introduce predators. But there are subtle changes taking place.

[@FinolaMulholland]

Why is area so often given in terms of football pitches ?? Some of us work in acres/hectares.

[@lesterstanden2435]

Because everyone's treated as though they have a low level of intellect and they watch football.

[@hotbit7327]

Simple language for simple people.

[@patrickdoake6022]

I work part time at hotel in caithness as a gardener. Replanting areas of grounds with oak, hazel, birch etc. Have an area of aspen by river, it wad suffering from exposure to gales and choked with bracken Over last few years i have planted native willow (various species on windward side and birch rowan and beat down bracken with broomhandle This year found aspen suckerscoming up for 1st time. Also catkins on one branch. Taken root cuttings from aspen in other areas to plant in other areas in grounds. Tacklemore brackennext year.

[@SxzAngel-qm6mq]

I remember driving up the windy Roads of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado and seeing a vast forest of different pines and the occasional aspen but there was a part up the road that was huge stretch of aspen that was magical to look into and we need to bring that back to its native range. Also thanks for the free month at planet wild!❤

[@paleo-zoo-keeper-association]

I remember a tale about the aspen trees from a Native American Cinderella story, I don't remember from what tribe at this moment, but it's basically that these Wicked sisters tormented their younger nicer sister and because of their guilt and they later got turned into Aspen trees by a warrior who commands the wind (is also the 'prince charming' that the Native American Cinderella marries). And then goes that every time the wind goes by the aspen trees, they shiver because they are afraid of guilt of what they have done.

[@michaellutes1057]

I actually live about an hour and a half away from Fish Lake, so pretty close to pando. And there are thousands, if not millions of aspen trees just up the road from my house in the mountains. They are a lovely species, and my wife wants to plant a couple in our home landscape.

[@MrDesmondPot]

Very interesting, Rob. Anything a beaver likes I like.

[@Tyrisalthan]

Yes, asp is a common tree in Finland. And if I remember correctly, it's also our national tree. There is also two different variety of aspen here, with a bit different shaped leaves and the direction of the branches where the leaves are growing. There is also xylitol which is made from asp which is used as a replacement of sugar is pretty common here. For example almost all bubble gums are sweetened with xylitol instead of sugar.

[@pogues1]

OK, joined up, keep 'em coming, love your garden stuff, supporting 3 hedgehogs , 2 squirrels and a fox or 2 here in urban Belfast, plus 3 kids a collie and cat.

[@lesterstanden2435]

Yes, there's a lot of aspen around the Kyle of Sutherland where I live. There are many stands of it which are self sustaining through suckering. This area has the most northerly aspen and native pine woods in the UK. We really need some beavers though.

[@BlockBlender]

One day, I will sell everything I have and buy a piece of land in need of restoration. My goal is to transform it into a place where nature and humans can coexist and thrive. This has always been my dream, but channels like this have solidified my vision, and I am determined to make it a reality. If anyone has tips on finding land that fits this description, please let me know!

[@wafikiri_]

Siempre me ha gustado el álamo temblón. Un buen árbol.

[@feiryfella]

Would they work in Iceland?

[@LeaveCurious]

yes, but they're rare there too, similar problems to scotland

[@Solstice261]

They are being planted there along birch if I am not mistaken

[@user-tm8jt2py3d]

Does anybody have tips for easily distinguishing it from birch?

[@LeaveCurious]

silver birch has a much pointer triangular leaf shape and the margins are more serrated than wavy - one thing i've noticed about aspen, is quite a lot of variation in leaf shape, especially when young

[@bohelmich533]

Altitude and region are good clues. In Colorado and Utah Aspens thrive above 6000 feet and I rarely see healthy trees lower down; they seem to dislike hot, dry summers. Birches much more prominent in cold weather areas of the Midwest (eg Minnesota) or New England.

[@lesterstanden2435]

It has grey bark. Birch doesn't.

[@latheofheaven1017]

OMG. People don't like the Aspen because of its fluttering leaves? That's what I love about it!

[@ajaxtelamonian5134]

There is actually some Aspen about in East Sussex. Not a huge amount but definitely there.

[@MarkCosgrove-b3p]

The interconnected roots systems make them freat for erosion control and Beavlove using them.

[@wafikiri_]

Let's remember that land's good health requires many species. Woods are better composed of thickets of varous species. Some of them may require micellia and even certain mammals like squirrels for symbiotic developement and sustainment.

[@jonstfrancis]

Aspens were often planted in the SW of England alongside watermeadows and canals. They are beautiful trees but I don't see them on more wild areas alongside brooks and rivers, there the trees growing are largely alder.

[@raphlvlogs271]

is the Aspen seen as an agricultural weed in some places?

[@lesterstanden2435]

No. It doesn't spread onto land that's cultivated or grazed but it often exists alongside watercourses or roads where they are fenced off.

[@gruenerFarbklecks]

These trees remind me of Tears of the Kingdoms scenic sky islands!

[@pattheplanter]

The shaking probably also helps gas mixing so that exchange in the stomata is more rapid. More carbon dioxide in and more oxygen out.

[@lewistempleman9752]

if you can hand pollinate aspen you can hand pollinate me

[@martinOzymandias7333]

Would they survive on poor soil / maritime areas of west of Ireland ? 🤔

[@LeaveCurious]

I'd reckon so!

[@Solstice261]

Aspen is not very picky it will grow wherever as long as there isn't overgrazing and rhe temp/humidity is ok, it can also be propagated easily which makes it a very common reforestation species, I honestly have no clue why it hasn't been reforested in England and Ireland, maybe only wood crops are taking all attention

[@lesterstanden2435]

Yes, in the right places. Its native distribution includes the whole of Ireland. Although it can grow even in cracks on cliffs, like most trees is doesn't grow well in peat. As long as there's some mineral soil it can utilise, then some surface peat doesn't matter. It grows on west facing sea cliffs in Scotland where it only comes into leaf in June and they fall before October, so it's dormant for eight months annually! Irish aspen video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/imivZYuDbJinjKc

[@JoakimBalogh]

Have you stopped working with mossy earth? I also like planet wild and are member in both

[@NoahHagen]

Aspen grows all over colorado where i live, was always one of my favorite trees, but after hearing some believed jesus was crucified with aspen i love them even more!

[@prubroughton1864]

Not sure thought it was a tree in Tasmania

[@JohnMacFergus-oz5cp]

Is it native to these prospective areas? I hope it works.

[@henriettanovember4733]

💚

[@jamestoday2239]

Bit embarrassed to say this, but I never knew anything about this tree thinking it was a North American species.....I've never seen one either!!

[@pacresfrancis1565]

nature is so beautiful that it' s making me sad 😭😭😭 ( I live in a developing country and its sucks😢 )

[@JorgeLausell]

Across Ukraine during their rewilding?

[@bluowl148]

❤💪💪👏👏

[@jameswest6085]

first