Well what do you think about this: According to Alexis Kelly of Fodor’s Travel, the best latte’s in the world come from our Campfire Barista Steffan, and are best enjoyed in the HaliPuu forest 🤩 That is quite a compliment, don’t you think! Read the article…[Read more]

Today on TV in the US and around the world: Gordon, Gino and Fred: Desperately seeking Santa! Last year we had the incredible honour of hosting the three gentlemen in our forest, having coffee and marshmallows by the campfire, singing (badly) and hugging some trees. It was an awesome experience that lead to our first ever real food product being…[Read more]

On the shared second place: The Bicycle hug from the Netherlands, the Angrybirds family hug from Russia, and the Yogi-hug from Ukraine 🏆🌲🤗. The runners up will also be welcome to represent their countries in the 2022 World Championships, and will receive an Arctic Cocooning trip with us in the forest 💚 Thank you for these wonderful entries! There…[Read more]

We have a winner 🏆🌲🤗 Lyazzat from Kazakhstan won the TreeHugging2021, with a touching picture of her mother 💚💚💚 This is what the judges had to say: “We never know what to expect when we start going through the hugging pictures. They amaze us with the love, fun and creativity that they present, and of course the trees, big and small.
When we saw…[Read more]

On Saturday we crowned the winner of the LIVE contest here in our HaliPuu forest in Lapland (the Online contest is still running until Sat 28th so keep sending us your hugging pictures). Can you believe, Stefania is now the champion – for second year running!!! She really was born to hug trees! You can watch the full broadcast at…[Read more]

Weyhey, our TreeHugging World Championships are coming again on August the 21st! You can start looking for your perfect hugging tree, we are eagerly waiting for your entry! If you need some inspiration in your search, check out this link: https://www.americanforests.org/get-involved/americas-biggest-trees/champion-trees-national-register/…[Read more]

Sunderlal Bahuguna, aged 94, died of Covid19 last week. Who is he, you may ask. According to BBC he was “the man who taught Indians to hug trees to protect the environment” through his Chipko-movement. Read more about this incredible man’s life’s work here: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-57171363

Online social networking has been our saviour in these troublesome times. But did you know that trees have their own social network that can keep an entire forest connected? It is Mycorrhiza- the fungal association of trees and the internet of the forest! Here’s an article that explains how Mycorrhiza binds the diverse flora in forests along w…[Read more]

Valentine’s day is almost here ❤️ If you are still looking for something special to your loved one, why not give them a gift that keeps giving: Campfire Barista’s next online coffee course is taking place on Sunday! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/140042792763

Hello, dear people! It has been snowing a LOT in our forest, and we have been busy cleaning the campfire place and keeping the paths walkable. While you may wonder how it is to live in such icy surroundings, we have found an answer to an even more burning question: is it ok to eat snow?
https://www.popsci.com/story/science/it-ok-eat-snow/

Happy New Year dear people! In this short but beautiful excerpt Elif Shafak uses trees to point our attention to the silent stories surrounding us.
“Listen to what we have to tell,
because hidden inside our story
is the past and the future of…[Read more]

Have you been in the nature today? During our live broadcasts we always talk about the different benefits that trees and forests have on humans, both mentally and physically. Here is an article that links to studies on those benefits, and explains what it is that draws us to the nature…[Read more]

There are so many benefits to being close to trees that it is pretty incredible. This Forbes article highlights a few of them and gives links to scientific research – tree hugging is not just for hippies, you see! Did you know, for instance, that the phytoncides emitted by trees decrease the levels of cortisol (or the stress hormone) in your…[Read more]

This is cool! On this map you find some historic tree graffiti, including the so called ‘witch marks’ carved into England’s trees. The markings tell about how people used the area hundreds of years ago – to mark trees for logging, protection etc.

Tree graffiti

Picture © New Forest NPA

We have had a gorgeous autumn here in HaliPuu -forest, with flaming red forest floor (see the blueberry plants in the picture) and golden trees. Alas, all good things must come to an end, and now the deciduous trees are bare, waiting to be covered with a layer of snow. More to the south, however, there is still beautiful fall foliage to be seen.…[Read more]

Yikes! Do NOT hug this tree! Some types of Australian Dendrocnides grow to be 100ft tall and look furry and inviting – but cause a sting that can last for days 😬
So always know what you are hugging… https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/16/science/australia-stinging-trees-toxins.html
Image: Peter Righteous/Alamy

Another great entry from #TreeHugging2020! Competing with number 2 we had Edmund from Malaysia, who did a clever tripple-hug. Edmund and his wife Sio Sen have been residing in Finland for almost 6 years of which 2 in Levi. They both work in the Hospitality industry in Levi, as the Wine Director and Customer Relation Manager respectively. It was…[Read more]

I have never heard of this tree growing technique, what a shame that it is not possible with our pine trees (on the other hand, we have never tried, so who knows… 🤔)
https://www.boredpanda.com/sustainable-japanese-forestry-daisugi/
(picture credits wrathofgnon)

Did you see this weeks “Tree of the Week” from The Guardian? It is a big hornbeam in Brockwell Park in London, and it is very important to Tim Mosley (interviewed for the story). If you happen to be somewhere close to it, would be great to get a hugging picture 😊 (This pic is by Tom Fuller)…[Read more]

And we have a WINNER 🥇🌎🌍🌏🏆
For a few weeks now we have been searching for the Virtual TreeHugging World Champion 2020, an here she is! The judges loved the deep feeling of joy in this picture, as well as the sincerity. Congratulations Irina, we hope you can come and defend your title live next year in the HaliPuu forest 💞
You can see more of the…[Read more]