New Year, New Tree: Welsh households urged to consider a green resolution this January
Digital Communications Officer - Wales
Welsh households are being encouraged to make a green new year’s resolution this January, by pledging to have a tree planted in their name in the National Forest for Wales.
Households across Wales can opt to have a tree planted on their behalf as part of an ambitious Welsh Government initiative to tackle the climate and nature emergencies – a scheme called My Tree, Our Forest.
For those who may usually struggle to stick to new year’s resolutions, opting to have a tree planted in their name is an easy way to commit to making a difference while creating a lasting impact beyond 2023. Trees can help mitigate many of the effects of climate change, by capturing carbon, preventing flooding, reducing pollution and reducing city temperatures.
Delivering the project, Coed Cadw, the Woodland Trust in Wales, has partnered with Welsh landowners who will provide space on their land on behalf of those who opt to have a tree planted in their name. There are over 55,000 trees available to be planted on behalf of Welsh households, with these native, broadleaf trees all contributing to the creation of a National Forest for Wales.
As well as sucking carbon from the air, improving our mental health and cleaning the air we breathe, broadleaf trees are a haven for birds and wildlife. In order to become a Net Zero Wales by 2050, experts have advised that Wales must plant 86 million trees over the next decade.
Minister for Climate Change, Julie James, said:
“Trees enrich our lives in so many ways, helping to fight climate change by absorbing carbon, improving our physical and mental health, and providing food and shelter for so much of our native wildlife.
“If you want to ‘plant a tree in 23’, why not have a tree planted on your behalf by using the ‘Plant a Tree for me’ option in the My Tree, Our Forest campaign. Tree collection hubs will also reopen in February, where you will be able to collect a tree to plant yourself.”
Natalie Buttriss, Director of Coed Cadw, said:
“What better way to kickstart the new year than with a resolution to have a tree planted on your behalf, and create a lasting legacy. The trees planted as part of My Tree, Our Forest will help establish a National Forest for Wales contributing towards a vast network of woods and forests across Wales for everyone to explore and enjoy for generations to come.”
For more information, and to request a tree to be planted on your behalf, visit https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/wales-tree-giveaway/plant-a-tree-for-me-form/
Notes to editors
For more information please contact the Woodland Trust press office or Jane Cook on hello@talktojanepr.co.uk.
The Welsh Government and Coed Cadw, the Woodland Trust in Wales, are offering trees to households in Wales, free of charge. The trees will help tackle the effects of climate change and will also contribute to the National Forest for Wales.
As part of the project, there are 295,000 trees available to households in Wales. There are two ways Welsh households can be a part of My Tree, Our Forest in 2023:
- Collect a tree from a hub. Tree collection hubs are currently closed but will re-open in mid-February across Wales.
- Plant a tree for me. Opt to have a tree planted on your behalf.
About Coed Cadw, The Woodland Trust in Wales
The Woodland Trust is the largest woodland conservation charity in the UK. It has over 500,000 supporters. It wants to see a UK rich in native woods and trees for people and wildlife. The Trust has three key aims:
- protect ancient woodland, which is rare, unique and irreplaceable.
- restoration of damaged ancient woodland, bringing precious pieces of our natural history back to life.
- plant native trees and woods with the aim of creating resilient landscapes for people and wildlife.
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 29,000 hectares. These include over 100 sites in Wales, with a total area of 2,897 hectares (7,155 acres). Access to its woods is free, so everyone can benefit from woods and trees.
The Trust’s Welsh language name, “Coed Cadw”, is an old Welsh term, used in medieval laws to describe protected or preserved woodland.