National Tree Week was initiated in 1973 to encourage public interest in tree planting and to help people develop an appreciation for the importance and beauty of trees and the crucial role they play in our lives and for the environment. This week was chosen as the time to celebrate trees as it is at the start of the UK tree planting season.

UK forests currently account for just 13 % of the UKs land area. Compared to the EU average of 37 % this is very low. The Woodland Trust Climate Change – Woodland Trust are one of the charities in the UK that is campaigning to improve this percentage substantially. The UK committee on Climate Change has recommended that an increase to at least 19 % is required to achieve the UK’s target to be carbon neutral by 2050.

The reasons why trees are so important are numerous and include:

• Trees collect carbon dioxide form the air and in combination with water and sunlight convert this to oxygen by photosynthesis. The Oxygen is released back into the air and thus improves air quality.
• Trees are a natural solution to fight climate change. The UKs woodlands store 213 million tonnes of carbon in living trees.
• Trees provide protection from the elements, providing shade and reducing flooding by absorbing rainwater and reducing soil erosion.
• Trees provide shelter and food for an abundance of nature.
• Studies have shown that spending time appreciating nature can improve our mental and physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, alleviating stress and boosting the immune system.

Why not celebrate National Tree Week by planting a tree! The Woodland Trust offers free trees and hedges to schools and communities. They are now taking applications for deliveries of trees in March. Free Trees for Schools and Communities – Woodland Trust. If you have a garden, you could plant a small tree/hedge. Check out this tree planting guide from the Tree Council. National-Tree-Week-planting-guide-1-2.pdf (treecouncil.org.uk)

Why not also take some tree time this week. The tree council has a selection of activities that you and your family can do to help you appreciate trees more. Take some Tree Time this National Tree Week! – The Tree Council.

In advance of Tree Week, I took my boys (and myself) out for some tree appreciation time. We looked for different trees and found Silver-birch, Oak, Ash, Sycamore and Horse-Chestnut all within 10 minutes of our house. We collected leaves in all different colours and made a leaf rainbow.

However, the highlight for my boys was easily kicking up the masses of fallen leaves on the ground. This tree appreciation time certainly improved my mood and invigorated me (well it is invigorating when you have to run about to avoid getting leaves thrown at you!)

If you want to find out more about National Tree Week, here are some helpful links.

#NationalTreeWeek awareness

National Tree Week – join the UK’s largest tree celebration (treecouncil.org.uk)

For the fact lovers out there, here are some interesting facts about trees:

1. The world’s oldest tree is Methuselah, a 4,853-year-old Great Basin bristlecone pine in California.
2. The countries with the highest number of endemic tree species in the world are Indonesia, Brazil, and Colombia.
3. Trees can communicate with each other by sending natural chemicals to warn other trees of threats such as insects and parasites.
4. Tree roots can stem as far as 20 feet underground, with a wild fig in South Africa reportedly growing roots as deep as 400 feet.
5. The sun affects a tree’s bark. The bark of trees that grow in shaded areas tends to be thinner than those growing in sunny places.

Source:  NATIONAL TREE WEEK – November 27 – December 5, 2023 – National Today

Happy Tree Week

National Tree Week – 25th November to 3rd December / ECRF - Sustainable Wellness by blogadmin is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution CC BY 3.0

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