Trees have long been regarded as the symbol of life. From the beginning of human history, trees have provided shelter, building materials, fuel, food, medicine, food and beauty. Forests and woods were once considered mysterious places believed to be inhabited by strange, magical beings such as fairies, demons, elves and witches. In some traditions, trees were believed to be closer to the gods than humans because they grew taller and lived for longer. This led to the creation of a wealth of traditional stories from around the globe that have their origins in humans connection with trees. This collection of stories includes folk tales from England and Wales that are linked to trees, woodland or forest.