It’s National Tree Week (26th November – 4th December) and what a great way to celebrate the start of the tree planting season.
As part of our Jubilee Woods project, we have sent out an incredible 17,500 free tree packs to schools and a further 1000 free tree packs to communities – that’s a phenomenal 750,000 free tree supplied by the Woodland Trust.
As a result of this, 1,800 acres will be planted across the UK; equivalent to five times the size of London’s Hyde Park!
The importance of trees
National Tree Week highlights the importance of trees - from our own wellbeing through to air quality and water management.
Wildlife
Gardens, woods and forests provide an important resource for wildlife. Research shows that as urban tree cover increases so do the number of bird species. On average, the number of species increased by three for every additional 20% of tree cover.
Air Quality
There is evidence that urban trees remove large amounts of air pollution and improve urban air quality. With the UK having one of the highest rates of child asthma (about 15% of children affected), it is so important to have trees in our communities. Research has found that asthma rates among children aged four and five fell by a quarter for every additional 343 trees planted per square kilometre.
Wellbeing
Trees not only provide physical benefits but are also important to our general mental health. Trees and woods can have a restorative and therapeutic effect on the mind. Studies of patients in hospital found they recovered more quickly with a view of trees and nature.
Be part of something big
As part of our Jubilee Woods project we want millions of people to come together to plant over 6 million trees.
Why not plant a tree in your garden? You can pledge to plant a tree and then enter your details into our Royal Record where we are listing all the trees planted for Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee. This is a lasting record which will be preserved online and in the British Library, and presented to The Queen.
Or maybe you could create a Diamond Wood or Jubilee Wood? We are aiming to create 60 Diamond Woods of 60 acres and over as a growing tribute to The Queen. We already have 35 woods confirmed so we are well on our way to our target.
And, as always, we need your donations. Your generous help will provide free Hedge & Copse Packs to schools, deliver free Community Tree Packs and also help us plant trees in our Flagship Diamond Wood – a 460 acre site in the heart of The National Forest.
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