In this episode, I’m joined by Dr Tim Farewell, Director of MapleSky Environment and Infrastructure, to explore the invisible forces beneath our feet. We dig into the science of subsidence, the role of clay soils, and how climate change is reshaping risk across the UK.

We also talk about infrastructure resilience, insurance models, public perception, and the complex relationship between trees, property and heat. From the rise of wildfires to the limits of AI in subsidence cases, this episode brings together law, data and lived experience.

If you’ve ever wondered how a tree might be saving your street or cracking your foundations, this one’s for you.

Useful Links
• The Response of Three Soils to Water (YouTube Video) – A simple, visual explanation of how different soils shrink and swell with moisture, featuring Tim and his daughter.
• MapleSky Environment & Infrastructure – Learn more about Tim Farewell’s work in subsidence modelling, infrastructure resilience and environmental data.

• Extreme Heat and Mortality in Europe (Nature Medicine) – A research article exploring the health impacts of rising temperatures across Europe.

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I’d love to hear your thoughts. You can leave me a voice message at www.speakpipe.com/treelaw – your questions or reflections might even feature in a future episode.

🎧 Huge thanks to Mike at Making Digital Real for producing and editing this episode to such a high standard.