I was honoured to be invited to take part in this programme which looks at how important the natural world (in particular trees and forests) is to out physical and spiritual well-being.

As the programme introduction says: “The story of Good Friday can seem remote, and invites the question of what it can mean for us now. The destruction of nature on our planet has become an increasing concern and painful to witness. Many people feel at a deeply spiritual level that to do violence to the Earth is to do violence to our higher calling towards integrity and dignity.

The account of Jesus’ suffering and death is of a very physical experience. The physical and the spiritual cannot be separated and our presence on and relationship with the planet are intrinsic to our thoughts about where we came from and what we hope for.

A central symbol of the link between Earth and a greater reality is the Tree of Life – it can be found everywhere from Chinese paganism to Buddhism to Norse mythology, and is a central image in Christianity.

‘Good Friday: Tree of Life’ explores how we can relate to the story of Good Friday through these elemental links.” The programme was first broadcast on 19th April 2029.