The Woodland Trust is passionate about the need to increase native woodland cover in the UK not only to create more beautiful landscapes and help wildlife prosper but also to help improve the quality of everyone’s lives. With the help of our members and supporters we plant thousands of trees at our woodland creation sites, but mostly woodland creation is delivered by private landowners, local authorities and developers. Through our online advice centre we can help more people to plant their own wood.
As the UK is the least wooded country in Europe (11.8% compared with a European average of 44%) action is urgently needed to buck this trend.
Woodland creation and the environment
Trees have been described as the lungs of the Earth, absorbing and storing carbon dioxide which would otherwise contribute to global warming. At the Woodland Trust we believe that reduction and avoidance of emissions is the most effective way to reduce the impact of climate change. We also wholeheartedly believe that planting trees is a viable way to capture and store the carbon which has been produced and cannot yet be avoided. These trees will help us reforest the UK, and by creating larger woodland habitats, will also benefit people and wildlife to adapt to climate change.
Woodland creation and people
Woods have been shown to be beneficial to our health and overall wellbeing. Time spent in woods can help reduce stress and anxiety, whilst exercising in woods and other green spaces also has mental health benefits as well as improving physical health. One estimate suggests that doubling the number of trees in the West Midlands could reduce excess deaths due to particulate pollution by up to 140 per year.
Woodland creation and wildlife
Woodland creation sites rapidly attract insects on vegetation between growing trees. These in turn attract birds such as skylarks, meadow pipits and linnets. As a habitat native woodland contains more threatened species that any other habitat in the UK . By creating new woods in the right places – alongside existing wildlife habitats we can protect and connect our fragmented woods.