Woods and trees are not just great for people and wildlife

They mitigate the effects of climate change and play an important role in regulating our natural environment by providing clean air and water, as well as food and materials.

Six ways trees help the environment

Carbon
Shade
Cooling
Shelter
Flooding
Water quality

Carbon

Trees store carbon, helping to counteract the effects of burning fossil fuels. They can also be used as a carbon-lean fossil fuel substitute, providing more sustainable heat and power. Woods and trees have a measurable impact in reducing air pollution, absorbing polluting gases, intercepting air-borne particles and releasing oxygen. Their layered canopy structure makes them especially effective as it provides a surface area of between two and 12 times greater than the land areas they cover.

Shade

Trees and woods have a cooling effect through the hot summer months; deciduous trees in particular shade both animals and buildings, reducing the need for air conditioning in the latter. Scattered trees on farms offer direct shade to housed and free range livestock, potentially reducing heat stress. Conversely, trees provide shelter from the elements in winter, again protecting buildings and livestock and reducing the need for heating by 10–40%.

Cooling

Water released as vapour from trees through transpiration also has a cooling effect, lowering the surrounding air temperature. This leads to lower ozone levels, which in turn reduces the incidence of respiratory illness. In towns and cities temperatures are often higher in summer than in other areas; incorporating trees into urban design can play an important role in reducing this ‘urban heat island’ effect.

Shelter

On farms, windbreaks of broadleaf trees slow wind speeds without creating damaging turbulence on the lee side. Crops are sheltered, yields increase, pasture growth is encouraged, populations of pollinating insects grow and soil erosion is reduced.

Flooding

Trees and woods also help ameliorate the effects of flooding. Woodland can reduce small floods on a local scale by improving infiltration of water into soil. On floodplains trees absorb and delay flood flows. In urban areas, where trees are used as part of sustainable urban drainage systems, they can reduce surface run-off and retain pollutants on brownfield sites.

Water quality

Trees shade watercourses, reducing water temperature and improving oxygen levels in watercourses to the benefit of all downstream. This improvement in water quality has the added benefit of reducing costs for water purification.

We believe the UK needs twice the native woodland we have now, for wildlife, people and to improve our environment and help us adapt to climate change.