A walk in the woods will never be the same after watching the film, The Hidden Life of Trees (83 min), being co-presented by World Community and the Comox Valley Land Trust at the Stan Hagen Theatre, North Island College, Courtenay on Friday, Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. The film is full of lovely images, macro close-ups and time-lapse photography.
Based on forester Peter Wohlleben’s bestselling book The Hidden Life of Trees, the film follows Wohlleben through forests in Europe and B.C. as he contends that trees are social beings who share food through their root systems, protect each other from insects and time their blossoming for bumper years that will outstrip animals’ ability to eat all the seeds.
Wohlleben is not opposed to all logging, but points out that monoculture plantations are unhealthy; clear-cutting destroys the potential of young trees and heavy machinery does irreversible damage by compacting the soil. There are alternative approaches.
Admission is by donation. Bring your mask and your vaccine card. Seating will be limited to 106 people to allow for distancing. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.
To watch the film trailer or to purchase a ticket for an online screening anytime between Nov. 26-28, go to www.worldcommunity.ca