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It’s a cold day, so we won’t be going far. We get the train up to Allmend. 

Along the path are picture boards explaining the workings of the forest. This one is about photosynthesis. 

It works like this: Take 6 parts water and six parts carbon dioxide. Add some sunlight and the tree will convert this cocktail into six parts oxygen and one part carbohydrate. 

6CO2 + 6H2O + light → C6H12O6 + 6O2

The tree doesn’t need the oxygen so this is released back into the atmosphere, which is convenient for all the animal life on the planet (including us of course).

Trees get sick just like the rest of us. This one has succumbed to a fungus. The big bracket fungus on the trunk is an outward sign of the infection.