A new Radio 3 series of Somerville Fellow Fiona Stafford’s The Meaning of Trees will air at 10.45pm from Monday to Friday this week.

Horse Chestnut, Cypress, Cherry, Holly and Birch will each be a the subject of a full episiode, as Professor Stafford considers the cultural and literary significance of each species.

You can also read our 2014 feature on Fiona Stafford’s research into the meaning of trees.

To see photos of a few of the Somerville quad trees, see the recent Facebook post.

Further reading?

Fragmented: Somerville Students Publish New Translations of Ingeborg Bachmann

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25 June 2026
Fragmented: Somerville Students Publish New Translations of Ingeborg Bachmann

Student Stories: Sana Shah and ‘A stillness that consoles’

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24 June 2026
Student Stories: Sana Shah and ‘A stillness that consoles’

Research Highlight: Focal Pricing Constraints and Pass-Through of Input Cost Changes

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24 June 2026
Research Highlight: Focal Pricing Constraints and Pass-Through of Input Cost Changes