[Joyful music plays]

A child says, WHEE!

[Child giggling]

t.v.o. kids and Fifth Ground Entertainment Original

[Soft, gentle music plays]

Sunlight flickers through tall, narrow trees in a lush forest. Text reads, T.V.O. Presents.

Host Taviss says, STEPPING INTO THE FOREST,
AN UNDENIABLE PRESENCE
SURROUNDS YOU!
IT'S THE TREES!

In the forest, Taviss gazes up at the trees. Taviss wears her curly brown hair in two braids, a purple and yellow jacket over a burgundy sweater and jeans.

Taviss narrates, BUT LOOK CLOSER.
THERE ARE SO MANY
DIFFERENT TREES
THAT MAKE UP
A SINGLE FOREST.
NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE,
THERE ARE DIFFERENT SPECIES
OF THESE GREEN GIANTS TO DETEC.

Taviss walks around the forest full of different trees.

She narrates, SO WHERE AM I TODAY
AND WHAT TREES WILL I DISCOVER?

Taviss stands beside a mossy tree.

Out loud, she says, LET'S GO EXPLORE!

Taviss steps away from the tree and carefully walks over the uneven, moss-covered ground of the forest.

[Magical music plays]

The title appears within an image of a girl looking up at trees through a magnifying glass. The title reads, "Secrets of the Forest."

[Gentle music plays]

Taviss narrates, TODAY I'M ON
THE ANCESTRAL LANDS
OF THE LEKWUNGEN PEOPLES.

A yellow leaf falls on a moss-covered rock.

Taviss continues, TODAY THESE LANDS
ARE REPRESENTED BY
ESQUIMALT NATION
AND SONGHEES NATION.

She twirls the stem of a large leaf.

Taviss narrates, THIS LAND NOW HOLDS
FRANCIS/KING REGIONAL PARK,
WHERE I'LL EXPLORE
ALL THE TREES OF...

Taviss walks across a moss-covered log with her arms out.

She narrates, OH, RIGHT!
I HAVEN'T TOLD YOU
WHERE I AM YET!
WELL, IT WAS A JOURNEY
TO GET HERE.

[Whirring]

Taviss narrates, YEP.

A plane takes off down a runway.

Taviss narrates, NO BIG DEAL.
THAT WAS ME UP IN THE AIR,
HAVING SNACKS, WATCHING MOVIES,
ALL SO I CAN EXPLORE
THE WEST COAST!

Taviss takes selfies on a plane. On a beach, gentle waves roll onto shore.

[Camera shutter clicking]

Taviss continues, SPECIFICALLY THE CAPITAL
OF THE PROVINCE
OF BRITISH COLUMBIA: VICTORIA!
AND MARTY KRANABETTER
IS MY WEST COAST GUIDE.

In the forest, Marty Kranabetter stands by a tree. He has short, grey hair and wears a blue jacket over a grey hoodie and shirt.

Taviss narrates, MARTY IS A SCIENTIST WITH
THE B.C. MINISTRY OF FORESTS.
HE EVEN HAS A MUSHROOM
NAMED AFTER HIM!
IF THAT'S NOT COOL,
I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS.

Marty reaches for a mushroom on a tree.

Taviss narrates, THIS FOREST FEELS DIFFERENT
THAN MY HOME IN ONTARIO,
SO I WANT TO GET
WELL ACQUAINTED WITH THE TREES
THAT MAKE THIS PLACE
SO SPECIAL.
LUCKY FOR ME,
MARTY KNOWS THEM ALL.

Taviss walks up to Marty on a trail in the forest with a backpack.

Marty says, WELL, THIS ENVIRONMENT
WHERE WE ARE
IS REALLY UNIQUE
ON THE WEST COAST.
WE'RE IN THE DRY SIDE
OF THE COASTAL RAINFOREST,
WHAT WE CALL THE
SEASONAL RAINFOREST.
IT'S RARELY FREEZING
AND IT'S RAINY.
IT RAINS ALL WINTER AND THEN
THE SUMMERS ARE HOT AND DRY.

Taviss says, WELL, THIS SOUNDS LIKE
A NICE PLACE TO LIVE, THEN.

Marty says, OH, IT IS.
A LOT OF PEOPLE
WANT TO LIVE HERE.
AND THAT'S PART OF THE PROBLEM
WITH THESE FORESTS.
THEY'RE ALL BEING CUT DOWN.
SO THESE PARKS
THAT WE HAVE
ARE REALLY VALUABLE.
AND IN THIS ENVIRONMENT
THAT'S REALLY DRY AND WET,
WE GET A LOT OF OUR FAMOUS
WEST COAST TREES.

Taviss says, I WANT TO MEET ALL THESE
ICONIC WEST COAST TREES!

Marty says, ALL RIGHT.
FOLLOW ME.

He leads Taviss down the trail.

[Gentle, upbeat music plays]

On the trail, Marty says, SO, TAVISS,
IN THE SEASONAL RAINFOREST,
WE HAVE WHAT WE CALL
A MULTI-SERAL FOREST.

Taviss says, A MULTI-CEREAL FOREST?

[Boing]

In an animation, a pink, ring-shaped piece of cereal falls off a tree into a bowl of milk and other pieces of cereal behind a grey-haired rabbit.

[Splashing]

The grey-haired rabbit says, KIDS,
BREAKFAST IS READY.

A group of young white-haired rabbits hop over to the bowl of milk and cereal.

They say, OOH!
HUNGRY.
CEREAL!
I LOVE CEREAL.

In the forest, Marty says, A MULTI-SERAL FOREST.
THAT MEANS THAT THE TREES
ARE ALL DIFFERENT AGES.

Taviss asks, DOESN'T THIS HAPPEN
IN EVERY FOREST?

Marty says, NO, IN THE SEASONAL RAINFOREST,
WE HAVE THESE GROUND FIRES.
AND DOUGLAS FIR
HAS REALLY THICK BARK
SO IT CAN HELP THE TREES SURVIVE
THESE GROUND FIRES
WITHOUT KILLING THE TREE.
AND THAT CREATES OPENINGS
FOR OTHER TREES TO REGENERATE.
SO YOU END UP WITH THESE
VETERAN TREES
THAT ARE REALLY, REALLY BIG,
VERY, VERY OLD,
MODERATE SIZED TREES
THAT ARE A LITTLE BIT YOUNGER
ALL THE WAY DOWN TO LITTLE
SAPLINGS IN THE UNDERSTORY.

Marty and Taviss look around at different-sized trees in the forest.

Taviss says, SO GRANDMA, GRANDPA,
MOM AND DAD
AND THE BROTHER AND SISTER.

She points toward the different-sized trees.

Taviss says, THAT MAKES
A MULTI-SERAL FOREST.

Marty agrees, A MULTI-SERAL FOREST.

Taviss and Marty approach a partially fallen tree lying against a boulder over the trail. Taviss jumps and taps the tree before walking under. Marty ducks under the tree and follows.

[Magical music plays]

Taviss and Marty walk toward a tall, thin tree half-covered with moss.

Marty says, TAVISS, MEET THE GARRY OAK.

Taviss says, GARRY?
THAT'S A SILLY NAME
FOR A TREE.

In an animation, a tree says, HELLO, I'M BLACK SPRUCE.

Another tree says, I'M BEECH.

A third says, MY NAME IS POPLAR.

A fourth says, HEY, I'M GARRY.

[Crickets chirping]

Black Spruce, Beech and Poplar glance at Garry.

Poplar says, COOL NAME, DUDE.

Beech asks, CAN WE BE FRIENDS?

Poplar says, I LOVE YOUR NAME.

In the forest, Marty says, IT'S QUITE A RARE SPECIES
IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.
WE'RE AT THE VERY NORTHERN
EXTENT OF GARRY OAK'S HABITAT
ON THE WEST COAST
OF NORTH AMERICA.
IT WAS A VERY IMPORTANT TREE TO
THE FIRST NATIONS OF THIS AREA.
BEFORE SETTLEMENT,
GARRY OAK MEADOWS
WERE ALL OVER THE PENINSULA,
AND IT PROVIDED A LOT OF FOOD
AND CULTURAL VALUE.

Gary Oaks are tall trees with corkscrew-like twists in their branches and mushroom-shaped canopies.

Taviss says, SO THAT MUST MEAN THE ONES
THAT ARE LEFT ARE VERY SPECIAL.

Marty says, THERE'S NOT MANY LEFT AND
WE TREASURE EACH ONE OF THEM.

Taviss asks, SO HOW DO I KNOW
IT'S A GARRY OAK?

Marty says, WELL, THE FIRST CLUE,
THE BEST CLUE, ARE THE LEAVES.
THESE ARE CLASSIC LOOKING
OAK LEAVES.

He gently pulls a branch with a Garry Oak leaf toward him.

Marty says, THEY'RE GREEN AND LEATHERY.
ALSO, THE BARK
IS QUITE DISTINCT.
IT'S THIS NICE GREY COLOUR,
AND IT'S DEEPLY CRACKED.
FISSURED. IT ALMOST LOOKS
LIKE SMALL PUZZLE PIECES.

Taviss says, I HAVE AN IDEA!
I'M GONNA TAKE
A BARK RUBBING OF ALL THE TREES
WE MEET TODAY SO I HAVE
SOMETHING TO REMEMBER THEM BY.

Taviss makes a bark rubbing of the Garry Oak tree with a piece of paper and a crayon from her bag.

Marty says, WOW, WHAT A GREAT IDEA.

Taviss labels her bark rubbing Garry Oak.

[Upbeat music plays]

Taviss and Marty continue through the forest on the trail to another tree.

Marty says, OKAY, TAVISS,
HERE'S OUR NEXT TREE.
IT'S CALLED THE ARBUTUS.

Taviss kneels on one knee beside the Arbutus tree, a tree with red bark peeling off the branches above.

Marty says, THE MOST UNIQUE THING
ABOUT THE ARBUTUS TREE
IS THE PEELING BARK.
IT'S LIKE IT HAS A SUNBURN.

He gives Taviss a piece of the peeled bark.

Taviss says, OH!
THAT IS DEFINITELY
NOT WHAT I EXPECTED!
IT'S SMOOTH.
I'VE NEVER SEEN
SMOOTH BARK BEFORE.
IS IT UNDER THIS ROUGH BARK?

Marty says, NO.
IF YOU LOOK AT
THE TOP OF THE TREE,
ON THE YOUNGER WOOD,
THE BARK PEELS OFF
AND EXPOSES THE GREEN WOOD
UNDERNEATH.

Taviss says, WOAH.

Marty continues, AND THE WOOD OF ARBUTUS
IS REALLY BEAUTIFUL.
LOOK AT THAT CINNAMON COLOUR.

He shows Taviss a stick.

Taviss says, WOW.
IT DOES
LOOK LIKE CINNAMON!

She smells the stick.

Marty asks, DOES IT SMELL LIKE CINNAMON?

Taviss says, MM, KIND OF SMELLS LIKE TREE.

She smiles.

Taviss says, I LOVE THIS TREE.
THESE WEST COAST TREES
ARE SHOWING UP.

She starts a bark rubbing of a smooth section of the Arbutus tree.

Taviss says, THIS IS GONNA BE A GOOD ONE.

She labels the bark rubbing.

[Exciting music plays]

Elsewhere in the forest, thick moss covers a tall, thin Bigleaf Maple tree with long branches and light green leaves.

Marty says, TAVISS, THIS IS
ANOTHER IMPORTANT TREE
IN BRITISH COLUMBIA.
IT'S ONLY FOUND IN THE SOUTHWEST
AND IT'S A MAPLE.

Taviss says, THIS IS A MAPLE TREE?!
WELL, WE ARE IN CANADA,
SO THERE HAS TO BE
A MAPLE TREE AROUND.

Marty says, THAT'S RIGHT.
IT'S CALLED A BIGLEAF MAPLE.

Taviss asks, WHY IS IT CALLED
A BIGLEAF MAPLE?

Marty says, WELL, CHECK IT OUT.

He picks up a large, fallen maple leaf. Taviss looks shocked.

Taviss says, WHAT?
THIS THING'S
BIGGER THAN MY FACE.

She holds the leaf over her face.

Taviss says, OOOH! THIS LEAF WINS THE BEST LEAF AWARD, FOR SURE.

In an animation, a squirrel stands behind a podium with an award.

The squirrel says, AND THE AWARD FOR BEST LEAF
GOES TO...
BIGLEAF MAPLE!

[Cheering]

A Bigleaf Maple floats onto a stage with the squirrel.

The Bigleaf Maple says, THIS IS A DREAM COME TRUE.

[Applause]

In the forest, Taviss makes a bark rubbing of the Bigleaf Maple tree and labels it. Taviss continues through the forest with Marty.

Marty says, TAVISS, ARE YOU READY TO MEET
ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC TREES
OF THE WEST COAST?

Taviss says, I'M READY.

[Dinging]

Taviss narrates, I DON'T KNOW, AM I?
WHY DO I FEEL NERVOUS?

[Gentle music plays]

Out loud, Marty says, TAVISS, MEET THE
WESTERN REDCEDAR.

Taviss looks up at a tall tree with short branches sticking out.

Taviss says, WOW, THAT'S A TALL TREE!

A strip of bark is missing from the tree.

Marty says, WESTERN REDCEDAR
IS THE OFFICIAL TREE
OF BRITISH COLUMBIA.
AND THESE TREES LIVE
A LONG, LONG TIME.
CEDARS CAN BE UP TO
A THOUSAND YEARS OLD.

Taviss says, A THOUSAND?!

Marty says, THAT'S RIGHT.
AND THE WOOD IS REALLY SPECIAL
BECAUSE IT'S VERY SLOW TO ROT.
IT CAN LAST FOR DECADES.
IT IS A VERY IMPORTANT TREE
TO THE FIRST NATIONS PEOPLE.
A VERY SPIRITUAL TREE.
THEY CALLED IT THE TREE OF LIFE.
YOU CAN SEE HOW THEY SUSTAINABLY
REMOVE THE BARK
FOR CONSTRUCTION.
THEY MAKE A LITTLE SLICE HERE
AND THEN PULL THE BARK BACK.
THAT WAY YOU DON'T KILL THE TREE
BUT YOU CAN REMOVE BARK
SUSTAINABLY
FOR AS LONG AS YOU WANT.

Taviss looks at sections of missing bark on Western Redcedar trees.

Taviss says, I'M GONNA BE EXTRA CAREFUL
WHEN I DO MY BARK RUBBING
ON THIS TREE,
BECAUSE THIS TREE IS IMPORTANT.

Marty says, GOOD CALL, TAVISS.

Taviss makes a bark rubbing of the Western Redcedar bark using a green crayon and labels it. She packs the bark rubbing in her bag, and stands up.

Taviss says, MARTY, I THINK WE SHOULD
HUG THIS TREE.

Marty says, I DO TOO.

Taviss and Marty hug the tree.

Taviss narrates, I THINK THE OFFICIAL TREE
OF B.C. DESERVES
SOME EXTRA LOVE.

[Exciting, rhythmic music plays]

Videos from around the world flash behind text that reads, Where in the World?!? The videos include a sunset, a waterfall, a giraffe, a rice field, a desert, a valley, a river and a fall tree canopy.

Taviss narrates, CULTURES ALL ACROSS THE EARTH
HAVE SACRED AND SPECIAL TREES.

A world map marks the different countries.

Taviss narrates, IN SOUTH KOREA
MANY VILLAGES
REGARD THE DANGSAN TREE
AS A MEDIUM
BETWEEN EARTH AND SPIRITS.

In South Korea, a picture shows a Dangsan tree.

Taviss narrates, THE MAORI PEOPLE OF NEW ZEALAND
PRIZE THE TOTARA TREE.

In New Zealand, a picture shows a Totara tree.

Taviss narrates, THE BAOBAB TREE IS SACRED
IN MADAGASCAR.
AND IN INDIA,
THE BANYAN TREE IS REVERED.
NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE
IN THE WORLD,
YOU CAN FIND AN INCREDIBLE TREE.

Pictures show a Baobab tree, a Banyan tree, and other trees from around the world.

[Gentle music plays]

Back in British Columbia, Taviss continues through the multi-seral forest with Marty on a dirt path.

Taviss says, OKAY, NOW THIS FEELS DIFFERENT.

Marty says, YOU'RE RIGHT, TAVISS.
WE'RE IN A GROVE
OF OLD-GROWTH TREES
AND WE'RE ONLY 20 MINUTES
FROM DOWNTOWN VICTORIA.
IT'S KIND OF A MIRACLE.

The sun shines through the forest.

Marty says, IN THE SEASONAL RAINFOREST
WATER IS SO LIMITING TO GROWTH.
BUT WHEN YOU'RE
IN THIS KIND OF TOPOGRAPHY,
YOU CAN SEE HOW THE WATER
IS BEING RECEIVED HERE.

Taviss nods.

Marty continues, THERE'S A CREEK THROUGH HERE,
AND THERE'S QUITE A BIT OF
A DIFFERENT SOIL TYPE IN HERE.
IT'S MUCH FINERTEXTURED.
AND SO IT CREATES CONDITIONS
FOR PERFECT TREE GROWTH.

Taviss asks, LIKE THAT HUGE TREE?

She points to her right.

Marty says, EXACTLY.

He and Taviss walk up to a large tree with moss scattered across the bark.

Marty says, THIS IS ONE OF THE MOST
FAMOUS TREES ON THE WEST COAST.
DOUGLAS FIR.
LOOK HOW BIG THIS ONE IS.

Taviss feels a patch of moss on the Douglass Fir.

She asks, HOW BIG IS IT?

Marty says, WELL, THE TREES IN HERE
I'VE MEASURED ARE UP TO
65 METRES TALL.

Taviss says, WOW.

Marty says, ON OTHER SITES
ON THE WEST COAST,
I THINK THE RECORD IS 90 METRES.
THAT'S ALMOST THE LENGTH
OF A FOOTBALL FIELD.

Taviss says, BUT IT'S A TREE!

In an animation, an announcer says, TOUCH DOWN!

[Crowd cheering]

A tree falls over across a football field.

In the forest, Marty asks, AND DO YOU WANT TO GUESS
HOW OLD THIS BIG TREE MIGHT BE?

Taviss says, HMM...

She looks at the Douglas Fir thoughtfully and taps her chin.

Taviss says, 500 MILLION
THOUSAND YEARS OLD.

Marty says, WELL, YOU MIGHT BE CLOSE,
BUT IT'S ACTUALLY HARD
TO AGE THESE ACCURATELY
BECAUSE OUR TOOLS
AREN'T LONG ENOUGH TO GET TO
THE CENTER OF THE TREE.

He looks up at the tall tree.

Marty adds, PLUS, THE BARK IS SO THICK
THAT IT'S HARD
TO GET TO THE WOOD.

Taviss says, OH.

Marty says, BUT IN THIS GROVE, THESE REALLY
BIG DOUGLAS FIR, I BET,
ARE SEVEN OR 800 YEARS OLD.

Taviss looks shocked.

Marty says, THE OTHER FAVOURITE THING ABOUT
DOUGLAS FIR FOR ME ARE THESE.

He holds out his hand.

Taviss says, OOH, THEY'RE PINECONES!

Marty says, WELL, PINECONES ARE FROM PINE.
THESE ARE FIR CONES.
AND IF YOU LOOK AT THE SCALES,
YOU SEE THESE BRACTS COMING OUT.
KIND OF LOOKS LIKE
THE BACK END OF A MOUSE
THAT'S TRYING TO HIDE
IN THE FIR CONE.

Taviss says, YEAH, I TOTALLY SEE
THE MOUSE TAILS.

She holds one of the fir cones.

Marty says, A LOT OF FIRST NATIONS
HAVE STORIES OF THE MOUSE
HIDING IN THE FIR CONE.

Taviss says, I LOVE IT.
AND I THINK THIS TREE
MIGHT BE MY NEW FAVOURITE TREE.
TIME TO DO MY BARK RUBBING.
YOU'RE GOING TO NEED
A LOT OF PAPER.

[Taviss giggling]

[Drumsticks tapping]

[Rock music plays]

Text reads, The Fun Factor.

Taviss says, RUMOUR HAS IT HERE IN
FRANCIS/KING REGIONAL PARK,
THERE'S A TREE CAVE?
TREE CAVE,
WE'RE COMING FOR YOU.

Taviss skips through the park.

She says, WHAT IS A TREE CAVE?
DO YOU KNOW?

Taviss explores the forest. She looks through a small opening in a large tree.

Taviss says, OH, IS THIS IT?
OH, THAT LOOKS WAY TOO TINY.

She runs through the forest.

Taviss says, CAVE, TREE CAVE!
I'M ABOUT TO GIVE –
WAIT!

She runs ahead.

Taviss says, TREE CAVE!!

She steps into a partially covered space within a large, hollow tree.

Taviss says, OOH, A NICE LITTLE CORNER.
THIS COULD BE MY HOME.
MY CHAIR WOULD GO THERE.
MY KITCHEN, LIVING ROOM.

Taviss points to different corners of the tree cave.

She says, HOME SWEET HOME.

[Gentle music plays]

Later in the forest, Taviss flips through her different tree bark rubbings.

Taviss says, THERE'S SO MANY
AMAZING TREES OUT HERE!

She sits with her back to a tree beside Marty.

Taviss says, THEY ALL FEEL SO EPIC!

Marty says, THAT'S RIGHT.
THESE MILD COASTAL CLIMATES
CONTRIBUTE TO THESE
AMAZING ECOSYSTEMS.
BUT YOU CAN'T GET ALL
THE EPIC TREES IN ONE PLACE.
WE STILL HAVEN'T SEEN
SITKA SPRUCE OR WESTERN HEMLOCK.
OR YELLOW CEDAR.

Taviss says, THERE'S MORE?!

She leans against the tree.

Taviss says, I LOVE THIS PLACE.

She and Marty gaze up at the tall tree.

Taviss narrates, THE SEASONAL RAINFORESTS
OF VANCOUVER ISLAND
ARE HOME TO SOME
SERIOUSLY AMAZING TREES!

[Gentle music plays]

Taviss continues, IN ONE FOREST ALONE,
YOU CAN FIND TREES
OF MULTIPLE GENERATIONS,
TREES THAT ARE SACRED
TO INDIGENOUS PEOPLES,
TREES WITH TOTALLY UNIQUE WOOD!
AND TREES THAT ARE
DOWNRIGHT EPIC!

Elsewhere in the forest, Taviss leans against a tree.

Out loud, she says, THE SECRET IS OUT!

Taviss shouts, WEST COAST TREES ARE WONDERS!

[Uplifting music plays]

Text reads, Secrets of The Forest is grateful to work in the traditional territories of many different First Nations. We acknowledge their stewardship of these lands since time immemorial, and our responsibility to ensure it is never forgotten.

End credits. Directed by Melissa Peters. Written by Tyra Sweet. Created by Melissa Peters, Raj Panikkar, Christopher Szarka. Produced by Raj Panikkar, Christopher Szarka. Featuring Taviss Paula Millington Edwards with Marty Kranabetter. Logos: Fifth Ground Entertainment. t.v.o. kids.