Trees woods and wildlife
How trees fight climate change
Trees are the best natural climate change solution. Find out how they lock up carbon and how many the UK needs to reach carbon net zero by 2050.
Climate change
When it comes to climate change, our message is clear: native woods and trees are one of the best ways to tackle the climate crisis.
The role of woods and trees in the fight against climate change
The benefits of trees in the fight against climate change are now well understood.
They lock up carbon, reduce pollution and flooding, and support people, wildlife and livestock in adapting to the climate crisis.
But we need more of them. If the UK is to reach its carbon neutral target by 2050, the Committee on Climate Change has recommended an increase in woodland cover from 13% to 19%.
Woods and trees are a natural solution to the climate crisis.
13%
That's how low the UK's woodland cover is.
Compared with the EU average of 37%.
19%
That's how much woodland cover the UK needs.
If the UK is to meet its carbon net zero target by 2050.
Trees woods and wildlife
Can woods and trees reduce flooding?
Find out how native trees and woods can help alleviate the devastating effects of climate change.
Protecting trees and woods
What urban trees do for us
They green our cities. They clean our air. They even increase the value of our houses. Urban woods and trees do so much for people, wildlife and our economy.
Trees woods and wildlife
Tackling air pollution with trees
Air pollution can have a serious impact on our health, global climate and biodiversity, but there are ways to reduce it. Discover the role trees have to play.
What we're doing
There is an urgent need to act now. The UK needs to at least quadruple the current rate of woodland creation and increase the number of native trees.
An increase in native trees will help to minimise the pace and level of climate change and adapt to its unavoidable impacts.
Here at the Woodland Trust, we're expanding tree cover and protecting and restoring the UK's existing woods. To increase tree cover, our mission is to get 50 million native trees in the ground over the next 5 years. It’s a huge task.
About us
We plant
We plant woods and trees to combat climate change, build a greener future for the UK and create havens for wildlife.
About us
We restore
We bring damaged ancient woods back to life. We restore these irreplaceable ecosystems before they are lost forever.
About us
The Northern Forest
The North of England has significantly less woodland cover than the rest of the country, but not for much longer. With our partners we are planting 50 million trees and transforming the landscape of northern England.
About us
Landscape-scale conservation
We're creating bigger, richer, better, more resilient landscapes for nature and people.
What you can do
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Protecting trees and woods
The Big Climate Fightback
Be part of the Big Climate Fightback and together we can get 50 million more trees in the ground across the UK.
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Woodland Trust Shop
Plant a tree in your garden
Do your bit for climate change. Help us get millions more native trees in the ground by planting a tree in your garden.
External link
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Plant trees
Free trees for schools and communities
We want to make sure everybody in the UK has the chance to plant a tree. So we’re giving away hundreds of thousands of trees to schools and communities.
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Support us
Help lock up carbon with a donation
Capturing and storing carbon from the atmosphere is vital in the fight against climate change. By making a donation, you’ll help protect and add to this extensive carbon store.
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Support us
Donate your Nectar points
Fight climate change with 5,000 points to lock up around a tonne of carbon, or help grow the woods of the future with 2,000 to plant a tree.
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Visiting woods
Natures Calendar
Help monitor the effects of climate change on wildlife near you. Your records contribute to a growing body of evidence on global warming.
Explore the evidence
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State of UK woods and trees
State of UK woods and trees
The first-ever report that focuses on the UK's native woods and trees. It outlines their current extent, condition and wildlife value, benefits and threats.
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Blog
Tackling climate change with the right trees in the right place
Trees can tackle climate change and absorb carbon, but what those trees are and how they are managed is key.
Karen Hornigold • 27 Jul 2020
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Blog
Protect ancient woods to tackle climate change
In advance of COP26, the global climate summit, we explore the role of our irreplaceable ancient woods in tackling the climate emergency and the need to protect them.
Naomi Tilley • 24 Sep 2021
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Policy paper
Emergency Tree Plan for the UK
How to increase tree cover and address the nature and climate emergency. We set out key recommendations for the UK's national and local governments.
PDF (9.63 MB)
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Position statement
Tree provenance in a changing climate - the Woodland Trust's position
The Woodland Trust’s approach to resilience in the face of climate change focuses on utilising seed sourced from appropriate local provenances which the evidence shows will be best adapted to local conditions into the future.
PDF (281 KB)
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Blog
What are the effects of global warming in the UK? And how can we make a difference?
Global warming is affecting the UK. Find out the changes we are already seeing, the changes to come, and how we can fight back.
Nick Atkinson • 24 Apr 2019
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Blog
Deforestation and climate change: what's the link?
Climate change is a global concern that challenges all of us. But what do deforestation and climate change mean? What's their relationship? And how can you help?
Nick Atkinson • 04 Mar 2019
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Position statement
Climate change – the Woodland Trust's position
The Woodland Trust protects and restores woodland, increasing the resilience of natural ecosystems in the face of challenges posed by climate change.
PDF (243 KB)