As tree grow old, they age just as we humans do. Our skin wrinkles and sags, a similarly so do trees.

The skin of trees is called bark. It protects the the sensitive inner organs from the outside world. Trees contain as much liquid as we do, so without the bark the trees would simply dry out.

A break in the bark of a tree, is as uncomfortable for the tree as humans wounding the skin.

As do humans, the tree expands its girth every year, you would think that this expansion would split the bark, but to ensure this does not happen the tree renews its bark.

Not all trees shed in the same way. There are some species that shed continuously, and others with restraint.

You can identify who is doing what, when you look at the outer layer of bark, which is dead and forms an impervious exterior shell. By looking at this bark, you can also tell different species apart.

The information provided in this blog is taken from the incredible book ‘The Hidden Life of Trees’ written by Peter Wohlleben.

Wow, wow, wow…..this book is so worth the read!

Below are a couple of images portrayed in a collage showing a couple of the trees in my park as they gracefully expand their girths and shed their skin!