New Woodland Trust initiative highlights the real benefits woods and trees have on health, wildlife, the economy and the environment
The Woodland Trust is calling for a massive increase in tree planting across the UK with a new campaign entitled ‘More Trees, More Good’. Today, the Trust's President Clive Anderson outlined its aims and painted an ambitious picture of what the charity hopes to achieve over the next 50 years.
Clive said: “Research gathered over recent years has highlighted the countless essential benefits to people, wildlife and the environment that come from planting trees and creating new woodland habitats. To maximise these the UK needs to plant 20 million native trees per year – but at the moment we’re planting just six million.
"The simple act of planting trees unleashes a host of benefits: in just 12 years they become beautiful woodland, home to a vast array of wildlife and places where children can play, adults reflect, birds and plant life flourish and communities come together. They lock up carbon, are a natural defence against flooding, provide shelter from the elements and offer a sustainable supply of eco-friendly fuel."
A public opinion survey commissioned by the Trust and completed this month shows that 72% agree the UK needs more trees.
The benefits of woodland creation already feature in the UK's Low Carbon Transition Plan, which was published last summer, and the 2009 ‘Read Report’ on the role of UK forests in combating climate change. Most recently, under Defra's Climate Change Plan, a designated Woodland Carbon Task Force will encourage large scale private sector investment in woodland planting.
At the election the Conservative manifesto called for a national tree-planting campaign – reiterated in the coalition agreement - and also highlighted the need to create green spaces and ’plant many more trees’.
The Liberal Democrats went even further and echoed the Trust’s call for a doubling of woodland cover. The Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly have both made far-reaching commitments to increase woodland cover. The UK is one of the least wooded countries in Europe, with just half the European average for tree cover.
Clive continues: "We realise 20 million trees is a huge task but an increase in tree-planting rates is essential, and we can’t do it alone. That’s why the Trust is calling on all individuals and organisations to to their bit."
‘More Trees More Good’ offers a range of support to enable individuals and organisations to plant their own trees:
For larger tree planting schemes, there is a team of expert advisers who will make site visits to offer guidance on planting trees and accessing government funding.
For smaller schemes, the Trust works in partnership with landowners by supplying expertise and sharing some of the costs through the MoreWoods programme.
For schools and community groups, the campaign provides free or reduced-price tree packs.
Members of the public and companies can also help with the costs of the campaign. £6.7m is needed over the next 18 months.
A donation of as little as £10 enables us to plant four trees, £50 provides a free tree pack to a school and £150 pays for a tree pack for a whole community to start their own wood.
Find out more at: www.moretreesmoregood.org.uk
Notes to editors
For media enquiries contact:
The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, email: media@woodlandtrust.org.uk
The Woodland Trust:
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters.
The Trust has three key aims: i) to enable the creation of more native woods and places rich in trees ii) to protect native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future iii) to inspire everyone to enjoy and value woods and trees
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). Access to its sites is free.