Member News
4th October 2010
As the second day of the Conservative party conference starts in Birmingham, the Woodland Trust comments on the government's commitment to a national tree planting campaign.
The Woodland Trust's vision is of a UK rich in native woods and trees, enjoyed and valued by everyone. As an organisation intent on promoting a doubling of native tree cover, we are delighted to see the coalition government announce its commitment to a national tree planting campaign, an approach we have long campaigned for.
Sadly, for all the images of a green and pleasant land, the UK is one of the least wooded countries in Europe, and planting rates with broadleaved species have halved in England in the last six years. The Trust wants to see the national tree planting campaign spearhead a wider drive to reverse this decline.
Creating new native woodland and planting trees is not a luxury. It is essential as a means of tackling challenges such as climate change mitigation and adaptation, flooding, wildlife loss, improving public health – both physical and mental – and shaping places where people want to live, work and spend their leisure time. By delivering on so many agendas at once, woods and trees offer great value for money at a time of enormous pressure on the public finances.
At the Trust we want to see the public, private and voluntary sectors work together effectively to ensure the UK reaps the benefits of becoming rich in native woods and trees. We help landowners plant trees through our own simple scheme, MOREwoods.
Last year MOREwoods enabled the creation of 210 hectares of new native woodland across 160 sites. Those taking part were motivated by a range of objectives such as creating and extending wildlife habitat, leaving a legacy for future generations to enjoy, providing shelter for crops and livestock, and cover for game.
Further details of the tree planting campaign, can be found on page 17 of the coalition agreement.
This article originally appeared on ePolitix.com on the 28th June 2010.
Photograph by WTPL/Niall Benvie.
Should you wish to plant your own woodland, or know of someone else who is keen to do so, you can contact the Trust for woodland-creation advice on 08452 935 689.
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