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?

Harvesting the Winds of Change with Tim Rafferty

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14 March 2025
Harvesting the Winds of Change with Tim Rafferty

Somerville Undergraduates Scoop Geddes Student Journalism Awards

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14 March 2025
Somerville Undergraduates Scoop Geddes Student Journalism Awards

Somerville’s LGBTQ History: The 1980s

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12 March 2025
Somerville’s LGBTQ History: The 1980s