We’re supporting The Woodland Trust
We are fortunate to have some of the country’s most precious woodland throughout our region, areas not just beautiful to explore, but vital for the health of local plants and wildlife. Heartwood Forest in Hertfordshire and Penn Wood in Buckinghamshire are just two woodlands owned and managed by the Woodland Trust, and there are more than 1,000 others all over the UK. Through our latest charity partnership, we are proud to be collaborating with this amazing charity, helping to support their incredible work protecting and restoring ancient woodlands across the UK.
Who is the Woodland Trust?
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s largest woodland conservation charity, and has been protecting the UK’s native trees and woodlands for more than 50 years. They have planted millions of trees and own over 1,000 areas of woodland across the UK, all free to visit. The charity has three aims: to protect ancient woodland, to restore damaged ancient woodland, and to plant trees and woods to benefit people and wildlife.
Is our woodland under threat?
More than 600 ancient woods are under threat across the UK. Almost 40% of the UK’s ancient woodland is under threat from non-native trees and plants. Woods are also being damaged and lost due to human developments.
Protecting woodland and campaigning for “listed” trees
Following the felling of the iconic Sycamore Gap tree beside Hadrian’s Wall in September 2023, the charity has been campaigning fortrees to be ‘listed’ like historic buildings. The current tree preservation orders (TPOs) and felling licences do offer some protection, but the Woodland Trust want better safeguards in place for the country’s most precious trees. They are proposing that the Government backs a “Heritage Trees Bill” that would “list” a group of trees with exceptional historic, landscape, cultural or ecological importance, in the same way that historic houses, buildings and monuments are listed. Thousands of the most important trees across England could be more strongly protected under the proposed scheme.
Protecting homes for wildlife
Over the course of hundreds of years, ancient trees and woodlands develop into crucial habitats for thousands of species of plants, fungi, and mammals. These ancient woods are irreplaceable to the local ecosystem. Thanks to the help of donations and volunteers, The Woodland Trust plants millions of trees every year, creating and restoring important habitats for local wildlife. Rare dormice, adders, and nightjars can now thrive again in woodland, all thanks to the habitat restoration work membership makes possible.
Benefiting the environment
Plants naturally absorb CO2 from our atmosphere through photosynthesis. They store this carbon throughout their life, preventing it from polluting our atmosphere. The oldest tree in the UK is believed to be between 2,000 – 3,000 years old, and the longer a plant lives for, the longer the carbon they have captured remains stored. The Woodland Trust estimates that a staggering 213 million tonnes of carbon is being stored by living trees across the UK.
Creating new woodland areas
Only around 13% of the UK is covered by woodland – well below the 37% EU average. So far, The Woodland Trust has planted around 55 million trees, and they’re aiming to plant another 50 million trees in the next 5 years.
Restoring native woodland
Around 40% of ancient woodlands have been planted with non-native trees which can damage the ecosystem and cause a decline in native species. The Woodland Trust is working with landowners to sensitively restore their ancient woodlands and ecosystems.
Bringing nature to the public
The Woodland Trust looks after more than 1,000 woods across the UK, all open and completely free for anyone to enjoy. Their work includes making path improvements, adding accessible trails, and creating more opportunities for visitors to be out in nature, something we know is essential for our mental and physical health and wellbeing.
How we’re supporting the Woodland Trust
This year we funded 60 tree saplings for the Free Trees for Schools & Communities’ Scheme. Our local offices have each nominated a school or community project who are looking forward to receiving their trees to plant this autumn. On Saturday 3rd August we have a stand at The Blakesley Show and will be joined by the Woodland Trust who will be chatting to our guests about their work and looking to recruit new members, something which is vitally important in order for them to be able to carry on funding their projects around the country.
If you join the Woodland Trust, 84p of every £1 you giveis spent directly on woods, trees and wildlife. To find out more, visit https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/support-us/join/
