Climate change

Protecting trees and woods

The Big Climate Fightback

Five years. 50 million trees. That's our ambitious aim to help tackle climate change. Find out how you can get involved.

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.

Visiting woods

Nature's Calendar

Timings in natural, seasonal events such as the arrival of migratory birds or leaves budding helps us understand the effects of climate change on wildlife. You can help us do it.

Protecting trees and woods

Our work with The Climate Coalition

We're an active member of The Climate Coalition, a group of over 100 organisations dedicated to limiting the impact of climate change on the people, places and life we love.

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.

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Trees woods and wildlife

How trees fight climate change

Planting more trees is the best climate change solution. Find out how trees lock up carbon and how many we need to reach the UK's carbon net zero target by 2050.   

Trees woods and wildlife

Can woods and trees reduce flooding?

Climate change means we will see more extreme weather events. Find out how native trees and woods we can help us manage flooding and lessen its devastating effects.

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)

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)

Position statement

Trees and carbon – the Woodland Trust’s position

The Woodland Trust promotes tree planting and woodland creation as a means of reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide and combatting the effects of climate change.

PDF  (591 KB)

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)

Journal

Wood Wise - trees for good

Read the spring 2020 issue of Wood Wise, all about how trees can simultaneously tackle the climate and nature emergencies.

PDF  (3.05 MB)

Practical guidance

Ancient tree guide 5 – trees and climate change

A guide to the effects of climate change on ancient trees, and the measures that can be taken to improve their resilience and prolong their life.

PDF  (2.04 MB)

Practical guidance

Keeping rivers cool: shade for climate change adaptation

Practical guidance on using trees to shade rivers, helping freshwater habitats and species such as trout and salmon withstand the effects of climate change.

PDF  (4.41 MB)