In the beginning, there was one tree.

The quiet world began to change and grow. Beetles, bugs and ants crawled out. They tickled the tree with their hairy legs and made its seeds slowly fall down. Over time, more tiny saplings energetically popped up from the soil. The trees grew tall and strong. Vines, like ivy, wrapped around tree trunks. Leaves were every shade, from pale lime and peppermint to dark army green. Soon after, birds swooped through the branches. They made their nests, and the trees became homes. Now pouncing, fluffy mammals trotted through the woods. Some ate fruit and nuts from the trees, and others grabbed the bugs. This world was paradise. The air smelled like flowers and fresh rain. Sweet birdsong and whispering leaves danced on the wind. The trees were making oxygen for everyone.

But suddenly grasping humans were on the scene. They wanted to use the forest to master it. They came with their axes. The trees howled in shock and despair as, day-by-day, thousands were cut down. Later, people came with fire which burned like a monster biting away at the trees. The humans wanted the land for themselves for their cities. Then they came with their tractors. The forest became noisy with clanging and tearing. The mammals and the birds were scared to their bones. As time went by, humans polluted the atmosphere with their cars and factories and power stations and wars. Soot filled the air.

Then, even the rain became poisoned and ruined the world. The distraught leaves curled up and became parched and brittle. Every tree that had not been chopped or burned, or ripped from the ground gradually passed away. The heart had been snatched out of the forest.

In the end, there was only one hollow tree.