In certain areas of the United Kingdom, a strange sight awaits those who take a moment to look around. The area is littered with trees covered in coins, both living, growing trees and felled stumps. With rocks they locate nearby, onlookers smash the money into the trees, providing a permanent mark of their passage. But what is behind this odd tradition?

Coin carving on trees has a rich history that spans across cultures and continents. With the help of specially manufactured coins with sharp edges, artisans would painstakingly carve intricate designs onto trees as a means of expression and communication. As the carver delicately etches the desired designs onto the tree’s bark, he or she must be skilled, precise, and patient to produce an enduring work of art.

According to beliefs that date back to the beginning of the 18th century, one could rid herself of an illness by sticking a coin into a wishing tree so that the tree would assume the illness. He would become ill if he took one of the coins off of the wishing tree. Others believed that by inserting the penny beyond the tree’s bark and into its wood, they would be given a desire.

Coin wishing trees have also popped up in other parts of England and in other European countries. The wishing tree can be updated by hanging trinkets, vibrant fabrics, or written concerns and wishes from the limbs. The idea of a wishing tree has long been prevalent throughout most of the world.

Conservation and Preservation: While coin carving on trees can be seen as a form of artistic expression, it is essential to consider the impact on the natural environment. Making cuts in a tree’s bark has the potential to be unhealthy for the tree and stunt its growth. The preservation of the trees and the art form itself depends on artists and tourists engaging in responsible and sustainable tree carving practices.