Had to rush around tree (6)
I believe the answer is:
pineta
'had to rush around tree' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this definition defines the answer.
'had to rush around' is the wordplay.
'had' becomes 'ate' ('have' can mean 'eat').
'to rush' becomes 'nip' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'around' is a reversal indicator.
'ate'+'nip'='atenip'
'atenip' back-to-front is 'PINETA'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for pineta that I've seen before include "evergreen places" , "Tree plantations" , "Plantations of trees" , "places timber may be sourced from" .)