The oldest tree fossil has been discovered and the pine twig dates back to 140 million years ago. The fossil was discovered in Canada. Pine trees are extremely common in the Northern Hemisphere. Dr Howard Falcon-Lang of the Royal Holloway University in London, said, ‘The fossils show that wildfires raged through the earliest pine forests and probably shaped the evolution of this important tree.

The specimens are Charcoal within specimens from a quarry.’ (Geology Journal). Dr Howard also said, ‘They were sitting in my cupboard for five years before I actually worked out what was there.’

This false colour image is the fossil.

Harry, age 12.