Thousands of people help to create new woods across the UK
“The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” Nelson Henderson, philanthropist.
What a wonderful feeling it would be to sit under a tree knowing it was you that planted it many years before. Thanks to the Woodland Trust this is now a reality for thousands of adults and children, as the Trust’s Tree For All campaign teams up with local communities all across the UK, to bring this possibility to life.
It is a tough target to say the least; 12 million trees planted in five years by one million children, the Woodland Trust doesn’t do things by half. Over 516,881 people, mostly school children, have planted almost three and a half million trees, that’s enough to fill the Albert Hall 103 times or 7178 double decker buses! 9000 schools, over 500 community groups and 100 major partners have been involved, not to mention celebrities including Ray Mears, Dame Judi Dench and Penny Smith. In all, the project has created over 1,618 hectares (4,000 acres) of new woodland.
Andy Beer, head of campaign development for the Trust highlights: “Research shows that contact with woods and nature makes us feel better about ourselves. Because of modern lifestyles, many children are growing up with little connection with their natural environment. Tree For All is inspiring young people to become future guardians of the natural environment and to encourage people to become more in touch with nature, increasing their understanding and enjoyment of woodland. The simple act of planting a tree has the power to both restore our landscapes and inspire our children with a fresh love of nature and a determination to act on its behalf. We’d like to say a special thank you to everyone who has participated or supported the project so far.”
“The campaign has become even more relevant since the announcement from The United Nations and Africa's Nobel laureate, environmentalist Wangari Maathai, launching a project to plant a billion trees worldwide.”
The Tree For All campaign will be continuing its programme of planting events with schools and through community planting sessions, where anyone is welcome to attend. To find out how you can get involved visit the Tree For All website www.treeforall.org.uk or keep an eye and ear on your local media.
There are many ways that you can get involved: Tree For All’s free hedge and copse packs are available to schools and youth groups. The packs, which contain 30 native tree saplings, have reached as far as Fair Isle in the Shetlands, the remotest inhabited place in Britain, to Hull the least wooded city in the UK. To find out how schools or youth groups can get involved visit the Tree For All website.
If you can’t get to an event, you can still plant a native tree in your own garden; visit the native tree shop for a wealth of information. www.nativetreeshop.org.uk
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Notes to editors:
For media enquiries contact:
The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, e-mail: media@woodland-trust.org.uk
For photos visit: http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk/news/t4a/
The Woodland Trust: The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 250,000 members and supporters. The Trust has four key aims: i) No further loss of ancient woodland; ii) Restoring and improving the biodiversity of woods; iii) Increasing new native woodland; iv) Increasing people’s understanding and enjoyment of woodland.
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). Access to its sites is free. Further news can be found at www.woodland-trust.org.uk
National Tree Week (22 Nov -2 Dec) launches the start of the tree planting season and is organised by the Tree Council, the UK’s lead tree campaigning charity and an umbrella body for more than 150 organisations, including the Woodland Trust. The Tree Council is dedicated to inspiring, initiating and enabling effective action for trees in towns and countryside. For more information on National Tree Week events and activities contact the Tree Council on 020 7828 9928 or visit www.treecouncil.org.uk
