I read a book in 1998-2001. And I can't remember the tittle. It was about animals that could speak and their community. Humans were subservient to them as a punishment for past wrongs.At the beginning you don't realise that they are animals,and they use
Humans as their means of transport. Also the story involves a young woman in our time
Where Mother Nature is trying to stop the damage to the environment by increasing the growth of plants and trees. The trees start taking over cities and towns by reclaiming what is rightfully hers.If a house is too big trees start growing through the house, if a family has too many childeren,in the morning they find a child's bedroom reclaimed by trees and the child gone .The young woman rescues animals from a lab then finds that they can talk.
These animals are from the future and by accident they are all transorted through time into the future with the young woman. I really enjoyed this book and would like to read it again if anyone can help.

Well thanks to anyone who looked at my question
I did a huge search through an internet book search using wordssuch as trees,talking animals and after 1 1/2 hours found it .
It is called The F:eek: amily Tree by Sheri S Tepper

Family tree, ill note that down:)