The issue
Woodland brings many benefits.
People enjoy woods in all sorts of ways: visiting them and appreciating
their beauty; working to protect, create and care for them; and
indirectly through all kinds of media. Woods create an atmosphere of
tranquillity and peace close to where people live, and are an essential
part of our culture.
There is an increasing acknowledgement of the health benefits of woods
and trees. Woods can help to counter the adverse effects of air
pollution, improve a local neighbourhood, provide access to green space
and bring an experience of wildlife, history and nature to people’s
doorsteps.
When people join in to protect, manage and create woodland, individual
effort can become part of a wider movement of environmental care.
Children especially can forge a lifelong bond with nature through
growing and nurturing trees. We believe this is critical to the future
of woodland and the environment.
The enjoyment of woods brings benefits for people both individually,
through a greater sense of personal wellbeing, and collectively, through
a sense of community purpose in caring for local woods. The woods also
benefit by people’s support. It is understanding and enjoyment of
woodland that will ensure its survival.
Where the Trust is now
- We have a growing
membership of over 125,000, with a further 200,000 people supporting
us in other ways.
- Our sites are open
free of charge for people to enjoy. We are publishing a series of
Exploring Woodland guides, which provide information on woods to visit
managed by us and other landowners.
- As well as our own
website, we manage websites for others with whom we work, providing
access to information about woodland and its wildlife, woods to visit,
campaigns and ways in which people can get involved.
- Our initiative
with the UK Phenology Network is involving tens of thousands of people
in the collection of valuable information on the impact of climate
change on wildlife.
- We have launched a
Community Woodland Network, which provides support for community
groups involved in owning and managing their own woodland.
- We have an
education programme that includes both formal and informal discovery
and learning. We particularly want to inspire children to understand
and care for woodland.
What we would like
to see
- More public
enjoyment and appreciation of woodland.
- Active involvement
by people (and children in particular) in caring for woodland. We
would like every child in the UK to have the chance to plant trees.
- Greater emphasis
in public education of all kinds on the contribution of trees and
woodland to our lives.
- Fuller protection
of archaeological sites within woodland, and a better understanding of
the importance of woods in local and national history.
How we will
achieve this
We will:
- Offer
opportunities for people to create and care for woodland and for as
many children as possible to plant a tree.
- Improve the
quality of available information about woods to visit through our
website and printed guides.
- Arm individuals
and communities with the information, advice and support to fight
campaigns for the protection of woodland.
- Publicise the
Woodland Trust and the importance of woodland through the media and by
informing government debate.
- Increase
membership of the Trust as a source of support and a sign that our
organisation and aims remain relevant.
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We are, like all living things, part of the natural
world. If we fail to understand our place in nature, we will
fail to protect what sustains us. A change is needed in the way
society values nature. It is vital that children are involved if
this fundamental change is to be achieved.
Photograph: WTPL/David McHugh |
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