November 2004
Research shows that woods can improve your wellbeing
The UK has less woodland than almost any other European country, with just 12 per cent woodland cover compared to a European average of 46 per cent. With woods under threat from climate change, urban development and sheer human indifference, the UK’s woodland is at risk from further decline.
Woods not only provide the richest habitat for wildlife, but research by the Woodland Trust, the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity, reveals they can also have a positive impact on people’s wellbeing:
• Quality of life: Living close to woodland is one of the top ten most important factors that improve quality of life. A recent MORI poll found that nearly a third of respondents considered the loss of green space the most serious threat to their local environment1.
• De-stress: 65 per cent of people say that seeing woods on their way to school, work or shops makes them feel less stressed, according to a Woodland Trust survey2.
• Relax: Research also shows that people respond to wooded environments with slower heart beats, lower blood pressure and
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• more relaxed brainwaves, improving physical health and mental well-being3.
• Back to nature: The Woodland Trust also reveals that 85 per cent of people feel that having more wooded areas in urban environments would help us to stay more in touch with nature4.
The Woodland Trust’s Tree For All campaign will be the country’s largest ever children’s tree planting campaign. Tree For All aims to reconnect a generation that is becoming increasingly disengaged from the natural world through the simple act of planting a tree.
Tree For All aims to get one million children planting twelve million native trees, one for every child under the age of 16, over the next five years.
Tree For All has won support from over 40 celebrities, from actors and authors to pop stars and TV personalities including Sophie Ellis Bextor, Davina McCall, Dame Judi Dench, Alan Titchmarsh, Jeff Brazier and Fiona Philips.
Sophie Ellis Bextor says: 'Tree For All is an inspirational campaign. It teaches children that they need to nurture living things and help make them grow. Support the Woodland Trust and help give children the chance to rediscover the beauty of the natural world - wherever they live.’
Andy Beer of the Woodland Trust adds: “Tree For All is all about encouraging children to get involved in tree planting in their local communities. We want children to take a break from spending the weekend watching TV and playing on video games and to get outside, get muddy and learn about how they can help make a difference for the
future of our natural world. We want to inspire children with a love of nature to ensure that the next generation grows up ready to take action.”
Tree For All weekend will see planting events and community activities taking place across the UK. If you can’t get to an organised tree planting event you can still make a difference by planting a tree at home, at school, in your local community or you can even plant an e-tree online.
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For further information please contact:
The red consultancy 020 7025 6500, email vicky.perry@redconsultancy.com or The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, email media@woodland-trust.org.uk
For imagery click:
www.woodland-trust.org.uk/pressimages/t4a1.pdf
Notes to editors:
The Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters. The Trust has four key aims: i) No further loss of ancient woodland; ii) Restoring and improving biodiversity of woods; iii) Increasing new native woodland; iv) Increasing people’s understanding and enjoyment of woodland. Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust 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
Tree For All weekend
Tree For All weekend (18-23 November) is a prelude to The Tree Council’s National Tree Week (from 24 November to 5 December). This nationwide festival to mark the start of the tree- planting season and celebrate trees and woods involves a wide range of individuals and organisations, including Tree Council members such as the Woodland Trust. For more information on National Tree Week, visit www.treecouncil.org.uk
Sources:
1 MORI poll 2002 ‘The Environment: Who Cares?’.
2 RSBG survey 2000.
3 Ulrich, Simons, Losito, Fiorito, Miles and Zelson (1991). Stress recovery during exposure to natural and urban environments. Journal of Experimental Psychology 11, 201-230. Ulrich, Simons (1996), Recovery from Stress During Exposure to Everyday Outdoor Environments. In Barnes, Zimring and Winess “The cost of not knowing”, Environmental Design Research Association, Washington DC. Cited in Hartig et al (1991).
4 RSGB survey 2000.
