Why We Plant Trees

Why we plant trees
passionate about trees

www.treeappeal.com
Why we plant trees 2
Tree Appeal 3
The Tree Appeal Mission 3
Green Apple Award 4
Green Heroes 2006 5
Executive Summary 6
The Cause 7
The need for more trees 7
Why plant trees? 8
Tree planting partners 8
What Government says 9
The UK Biodiversity Action Plan 11
The importance of biodiversity 11
Implementation 12
EU biodiversity strategy 13
Publications 14
The Convention on Biological Diversity 15
Government Strategy 16
Challenges and opportunities 19
Environmental sustainability 20
Biodiversity 22
Landscape 23
Social sustainability 23
Public access to woodlands 24
Health 25
Recreation 25
Trees within the green infrastructure 25
Managing urban trees 27
The historic environment 27
The overall amount of woodland
planting and woodland management 28
What David Bellamy says 29
Professor David Bellamy OBE 30
The right trees in the right places 31
Climate change 33
Why become a Tree Appeal Partner? 35
What Tree Appeal does for you 35
Contents
www.treeappeal.com
3
The Tree Appeal Mission:
The philosophy of Tree Appeal is to plant and conserve trees within the UK and globally in recognition
and appreciation of the environmental and humanitarian benets that trees deliver to the wellbeing of
our valuable planet.
Trees are the longest lived organism on the planet and therefore planting trees is an investment that
creates a global ecological heritage for many hundreds of years. We must demonstrate that we are
seriously addressing our own countrys environmental issues. Only then are we in a position to inuence
global environmental changes, like arresting the cutting down of rain forests.
Most environmental damage occurs as a consequence of business activity. We therefore believe the way
forward is to give environmentally responsible companies the opportunity to integrate tree planting into
their product and service offering and gain a marketing advantage for doing so.
Tree Appeal has, on principle, decided that the funding for tree planting must come from a companys
marketing budget thus leaving that companys charitable budget intact, enabling continued support for
their many other charitable causes.
What Tree Appeal does for you:
You are Seen to be Green
It differentiates your business
with a unique selling point
You raise your profile, locally and
nationally, for all the right reasons
It helps reduce your carbon footprint
You make an ongoing long-term
contribution to the environment
www.treeappeal.com
Tree Appeal
The Green Apple Award
The top award of Green Champion has been won by Tree Appeal. At a ceremony in the House
of Commons the National Green Apple Award 2005 was presented to Tree Appeal in recognition
of their environmental best practice. The award was accepted by Bill Oddie on behalf of the
company at the event hosted by Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt MP, Secretary of State.
The Green Apple Awards are now in their eleventh year - recognising, rewarding and promoting
environmental endeavours and initiatives. We are very pleased to receive this important
recognition, said Bob
Swinbank of Tree Appeal.
We believe Tree Appeal
is a very exciting initiative
because it gives companies
the opportunity to make a
real difference. These broad-
leaved trees make a signicant
long-term contribution to
the environment and help to
combat climate change at the
same time.
www.treeappeal.com
Recognition
Green Heroes 2006
Tree Appeal have been presented with an inscribed plaque, to mark their achievement as one of
Britains rst Green Heroes.
The award was received by Professor Bellamy at a ceremony at Kensington Roof Gardens. The
award is made by The Green Organisation, an independent international environmental group
dedicated to recognising, rewarding and promoting environmental best practice around the world.
The Green Heroes shield is a new
annual award presented exclusively
to those that have not only won a
Green Apple Award but have also
demonstrated their commitment
by helping others to follow the
environmental lead.
National Organiser Roger Wolens
said, Tree Appeal are one of our
rst Green Heroes and they fully
deserve this recognition.
www.treeappeal.com
Recognition
www.treeappeal.com
The problem
A continuous and escalating assault on the environment
Huge loss to UK biodiversity
The need for more trees
An ageing resource
45% of our native woodland lost in the last 50 years
19 million trees lost in the storms of 1987 and 1990
30 million trees lost to Dutch Elm Disease
100 species of animals and 20% of wild plants and owers under threat in the UK
Globally, forests contain 45% of the stock of carbon
Why plant trees?
Natural beauty, food and habitat for wildlife
Each tree locks up 730kg of carbon dioxide over 100 year life span
Tree planting
Managed tree planting locations
Native broad-leaved trees
The right trees in the right places
Partners that are passionate about trees
Government view
Support from DEFRA
In line with UK and EU biodiversity plans
The benets to business
You are 'Seen to be Green'
It differentiates your business with a unique selling point
You raise your prole, locally and
It helps reduce your
carbon footprint
Planting trees proves
your company cares
about the future
Professor David Bellamy OBE
Executive Summary
www.treeappeal.com
Are your products or services costing the Earth?
The Cause
For many years we, as a race, shared a misguided view
that our environment was solid and robust. In our pursuit
of progress and nancial gain, we inicted countless
assaults upon it, never fearing that it would not recover
from such an onslaught. Our disrespect for our environ-
ment continued and escalated over the years without
once considering the consequences of our actions.
Only in recent years did the stark realisation that our
planets ecosystem is actually interconnected and inter-
twined become self-evident with the decline or extinc-
tion of many species of plants, animals, birds and insects.
All too often, we believe that many of the endangered
species of wildlife and habitat are in distant countries
and that we should be taking action to save the tiger, panda or whale. Yet we all fail to consider or appreciate
our very own ecological heritage and recognise our own endangered species such as the water vole, common
dormouse and pipistrelle bat.
Governments throughout the world have put the environment very rmly on their agenda. At the Earth
Summits held in recent years, the United Kingdom Government, like many others, signed the Convention on
Biological Diversity and agreed to meet the targets set. The recognition of the need to protect the biodiver-
sity of the planet from very real dangers such as pollution, global warming, unchecked economic growth and
exploitation of natural resources was highlighted.
The need for more trees
A considerable percentage of our native broad-leaved trees
are in their latter years of maturity which makes them very
vulnerable to storm damage and natural decay.
Over the last 50 years, 45% of our ancient, semi-natural
woodland has been cleared or converted to commercial
plantations. This loss was further compounded by additional
losses of approximately 19 million trees that were destroyed
in the storms of 1987 and 1990. It is also estimated that
more than 30 million trees were killed by Dutch Elm
Disease.
Green Finch
Sparrowhawk
The results of our encroachment and destruction of
wildlife habitat by deforestation during the last century,
in this country alone, has seen more than 100 species
of animals become extinct with many more on the
endangered list. Nearly a fth of Britains wild plants and
owers are under threat and the chances of seeing many
of them in the wild are growing slimmer by the year.
Forests throughout the world contain around 45% of the
global stock of carbon. With the massive deforestations
that continue throughout the world, our planet is
struggling to cope with the increase of carbon dioxide
polluting our atmosphere.

Why plant trees?
Trees vastly improve the natural beauty of our countryside and parks,
they compliment our building developments and they adorn our gardens
for our children to climb and shelter under. Could you possibly imagine
our landscape barren of these magnicent organisms?
They provide habitats to a wide array of plants, owers, birds, mammals
and insects. Without these vital habitats and the means to propagate and
pollinate, many more of our valuable wildlife and plants would suffer as a
direct consequence.
Trees are the longest lived organisms on our planet and they lock up
approximately 730kg of carbon over a one hundred year period. By
planting trees you can make a very
real contribution to the environment
and take a positive step toward
offsetting your companys carbon
footprint.
Tree planting partners
Working with the assistance of a number of environmental organisations
we are able to secure tree planting locations for our saplings on their
reserves and their land management projects.
These partnerships make our tree planting scheme very cost-effective,
allowing us to plant a much greater number of trees. All trees planted are
native broad-leaved trees such as oak, beech and ash.
www.treeappeal.com
Buzzard
Robin
Green Woodpecker
www.treeappeal.com
What Government says
Initiatives like Tree Appeal help support the Governments strategy
for sustainable development, with its aims of integrating our objectives
on social progress, effective protection of the environment, prudent use
of natural resources and high and stable levels of economic growth and
employment to ensure a better quality of life for everyone, now and for
generations to come
Jim Knight MP,
Minister for Rural Affairs, Landscape and Biodiversity, DEFRA
The UK has participated actively in negotiations to shape the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol. Both
agreements require Parties to protect and enhance vegetation that absorbs and stores carbon
dioxide. Under the Kyoto Protocol, carbon sequestered in new forests planted since 1990
count towards meeting developed countries emissions targets. The UK is committed to
reducing green house gas (GHG) emissions by 12.5% of the 1990 total by 2012 which is
equivalent to 21 million tonnes of carbon per year (MtC/yr), and has policies in place that
are aimed at protecting and enhancing carbon sinks as a way of compensating for emissions
from fossil fuels.
The biomass in woodlands contain some 90 million tonnes of carbon, 30 million tonnes
of which are stored in conifers and some 60 million tonnes in broad leaves and mixed
woodland. If the present rate of increase in tree cover in the UK continues, carbon
sequestration through afforestation since 1990 could save 0.6 MtC in 2010. These figures
do not include the much larger carbon reservoir provided by forest soils. It is also recognised
that LULUCF activities have multiple benefits in terms of conserving soil, water and
biodiversity, and the UK is actively working with EU colleagues on
this issue.
Dr Amy Sullivan,
Response Strategies, DEFRA Global Atmosphere Division
www.treeappeal.com
T
rees, woodlands and forests will play an increasingly important role in a
sustainable England. They are a vital part of our surroundings, whether town
or country. One of our richest habitats for wildlife, they provide renewable
raw materials, they help create our distinctive landscapes, they protect the land and
lter particulate pollution from the air. More people visit woods for recreation than
the seaside and woodland visits are increasingly recognised for their benets to
physical health and well-being. What is particularly striking is that they can provide
many of these benets at the same time on the same site. Woods and trees are valued
highly both by the people that own them and the public that enjoys them.
It is eight years since the Government published the England Forestry Strategy. In
that time we have gone a long way towards realising the Strategys vision of woodlands that deliver a wide
range of public benets. Over 30,000 hectares of new woodlands have been created and management grants
have been approved for 165,000 hectares of private woodland. A series of major Government projects have
regenerated landscapes around our towns and cities, creating new green places for people to enjoy. Last year
I launched Keepers of Time, the Governments new policy for ancient and native woodlands. The restoration
of native woodland, already underway in both Forestry Commission and private woods, will be one of
Englands largest conservation projects and a major contributor to reversing the decline in biodiversity. This is
a rm foundation of achievement from which to develop the even greater contribution to sustainable living
that I expect trees, woods and forests to make in the coming decade.
There are major opportunities. Few resources are as sustainable as trees, woods and forests. In contrast to the
nite resources that underpin so much of our lives, with careful stewardship they can continue to replace
what we use indenitely. For example, developing new markets for wood fuel could help in the ght against
climate change as well as providing the market incentive for bringing badly needed management back to
more of our woods. Access to woodlands in and around villages, towns and cities should make an increasingly
important contribution to the quality of life in the new sustainable communities we will create over the next
decade.
There are some real problems to address as well. Low timber prices make it difcult for those who want
to manage their woods to do so protably and we have growing evidence of the impact of the lack
of management on biodiversity. Pollution and climate change are having an increasing impact on our
woodland; and although forestry is modernising to stay competitive a shortage of skilled workers could limit
development in coming years.
Developing new policies and making them happen requires partnerships: private woodland owners, the
voluntary sector, business, central and local Government and the public working together to the benet of us
all. That is why this consultation and your response to it is so important. Your response will help us make
the best of the marvellous resource that is our trees, woods and forests in England for communities, for the
economy and for the environment.
Jim Knight MP, Minister for Rural Affairs, Landscape and
Biodiversity, DEFRA
www.treeappeal.com
The UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP)
The importance of biodiversity
Biodiversity encompasses the whole variety of life on Earth. It includes all species of plants and animals, but
also their genetic variation, and the complex ecosystems of which they are part. It is not restricted to rare
or threatened species but includes the whole of the natural world from the commonplace to the critically
endangered.
The intricate network of ecosystems, habitats and species comprising Biodiversity provides the support
systems that sustain human existence. It provides many of the essentials of life - our oxygen, water, food,
clothing, health and relaxation. The value of biodiversity extends from the spiritual benets to be gained from
contact with nature, to the economic potential of wild species for new sources of food or medicines. This
includes the potential for new products being produced through advances in biotechnology.
In a local context biodiversity has particular importance in giving a distinctive character to an area whether it
be chalk downland, estuary, woodland or mountain. Even in towns and cities, oases of wildlife habitat make an
important contribution to the quality of life.
However, the world is losing biodiversity at an ever-increasing rate as a result of human activity. In the UK
we have lost over 100 species during the last century, with many more species and habitats in danger of
disappearing, especially at the local level. On a world scale the rate of loss is now recognised to be a cause
for serious concern, requiring concerted international action to prevent continued loss of biodiversity. The
underlying reasons for biodiversity conservation make a compelling case. If we do not take action, we shall
suffer both economic and spiritual loss. Moreover, we shall hand on to our successors a planet which is
markedly poorer than the one we were privileged to inherit. We all have a part to play in safeguarding the
Earths biodiversity and action needs to be taken at every level from local to global.
The UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) was published in January 1994 in response to Article 6 of the
Biodiversity Convention, to develop national strategies for the conservation of biological diversity and the
sustainable use of biological resources. It was preceded by a consultation exercise, culminating in a two day
seminar.
The UK BAP included contributions from Government, statutory conservation agencies, the academic world
and the voluntary sector. It committed the then Government and its agencies to 59 programmes or tasks: to
conserve species and habitats; to develop public awareness and understanding; and to contribute to biodiver-
sity work in the European and global context.
Following the publication of UK BAP, a Biodiversity Steering Group was established to advise the Government
on implementation. The Steering Group had a wide-ranging membership including central and local
Government, statutory nature conservation agencies, industry, the main collections, scientic and academic
institutions, farming and land management, and the nature conservation NGOs.
The work of the Steering Group included:
* Proposals for monitoring a long list of 1252 species to provide a health check on biodiversity
www.treeappeal.com
within the UK;
* The production of action plans for 116 species and 14 habitats;
* Recommendations to produce further action plans;
* Improving the quality and accessibility of data and biological recording, including developing both a national
database and local record centres;
* The production of initial guidance on local biodiversity action plans, with the recommendation that more
detailed guidelines should be produced;
* Over 80 proposals to increase public awareness and foster education and training in biodiversity.
A response to the Steering Group report was issued by the [then] Government in May 1996. This welcomed
the objectives and targets put forward by the Steering Group and endorsed their aims and main proposals as a
basis for follow-up action.
Implementation
A framework of Groups was established shortly after the publication of the Governments Response to the
UK Steering Group Report 1996 to drive the process forward. The UK Biodiversity Group (UKBG), chaired by
Defra, provided the strategic steer to the UK process.
Four Country Groups (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales) took responsibility for overseeing
implementation of the individual action plans, raising public awareness, encouraging implementation at the
local level and promoting environmental education.
The Biodiversity Information Group (BIG)s role is to improve accessibility and co-ordination of existing
biological datasets, to provide common standards for future recording and to facilitate the creation of a UK
Biodiversity Database. BIG administered the rst monitoring round of species and habitat action plans.
The Biodiversity Research Group has identied and prioritised the cross-cutting research needed to
support biodiversity work, to facilitate exchange of information about biodiversity research, and to explore
mechanisms for co-operation including potential funding partnerships.
In October 1999 the UKBG completed the publication of the six tranches of species and habitat action plans
which when added to those already published in the Steering Group report bring the total number of species
and habitat actions plans published to some 391 and 45 respectively. Lead partner organisations or agencies
have been appointed for the plans and implementation is underway.
A key area of current work relates to how we report progress towards species and habitat targets. This
reporting process will build links between country biodiversity groups, national level habitat and species
steering groups and local biodiversity groups. The rst round of reporting on the published species and
habitat action plans was undertaken by the lead partners and agencies during 1999. The data collected has
been analysed and the information it provided formed a major contribution to the UKBGs follow up report
on progress.
This report Sustaining the Variety of Life: 5 years of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan gives an account of
progress with the UK BAP, draws conclusions and makes recommendations for the future. It was
published in March 2001 and a copy can be found at http://www.ukbap.org.uk/. The formal
www.treeappeal.com
response by the UK Government was published on 27 August 2002, a copy of which may be viewed at www.
defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/ewd/rrrpac/biodiv/bioresp.pdf.
The UKBG recommended in its report that new arrangements should be made to support the UKBAP which
take account of the fact that following devolution most policies relevant to the conservation of biodiversity in
the UK lay with the four countries. It proposed a looser arrangement for co-ordination at UK level involving a
large, inclusive UK Biodiversity Partnership, to meet annually, supported by a small standing committee.
It was recognised early on that successful implementation of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan required some
means of ensuring that the national strategy was translated into effective action at the local level and Local
Biodiversity Action Plans are seen as the means by which this can be achieved. There are now over 160 local
biodiversity action plans at some stage of development in the UK.
In March 2001 the UKBG launched a new website, to assist in the dissemination of information about the
national and local biodiversity action plans. This site includes details of the national Species and Habitat Action
Plans plus information on Local Biodiversity Action Plans. It can be found at http://www.ukbap.org.uk/
The England Biodiversity Group, chaired by Defra with a secretariat provided by the Biodiversity Policy
Unit advises Government on biodiversity policy and the implementation of the UKBAP in England. It is co-
ordinating its preparation of a Biodiversity Strategy for England to be published in September 2002.
The National Biodiversity Network Trust are developing a National Biodiversity Network. This is an
electronically linked series of data sets including local record centre data and national recording scheme data.
Further information about the NBN can be found on the internet at http://www.nbn.org.uk/.
Involving the business community has always been seen as a particularly important part of the UK
Biodiversity process. The UK Round Table on Sustainable Development published Business and Biodiversity
- a guide to integrating biodiversity into environmental management systems in 1997. The DETR built upon
this advice and published Business and Biodiversity- Case studies in March 2000. These studies give practical
examples of how businesses are assisting the conservation and enhancement of biodiversity. They also set out
ten indicators of biodiversity engagement for businesses.
EU biodiversity strategy
EU Biodiversity Strategy was adopted by the European Commission on 4 February 1998 and communicated to
the Community Environment Council. Council conclusions were adopted on 29 October 2001.
The Strategy is intended to be complementary to the Strategies of the member states, and to further the
implementation of existing Community policy on biological diversity and integration of biodiversity concerns
into the relevant sectoral Community policies and instruments.
The Strategy is a framework and therefore takes a broad-brush approach proposing objectives for work in a
number of key policy areas, covered by 4 sectoral Action Plans published by the Commission in March 2001
on Fisheries, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Economic Co-operation and Development.
Progress on the implementation of the Action Plans is monitored by a Biodiversity Expert
Group chaired by the Commission.
www.treeappeal.com
Publications
If you are interested in reading more about biodiversity the relevant publications are:
* Sustainable Development: The UK Strategy, 22 ( 0-10-124262-X)
* Biodiversity: The UK Action Plan (1994), 18.50 (ISBN 0-10-124282-4)
* Biodiversity: The UK Steering Group Report - Volume I: Meeting The Rio Challenge, 26 (ISBN 0-11-753218-5)
* Biodiversity: The UK Action Plan -Volume II: Action Plans, 30 (ISBN 0-11-753228-2)
* Government Response to the UK Steering Group Report on Biodiversity, 7.90 (ISBN 0-10-132602-5)
* UK Biodiversity Group: Tranche 2 Action Plans - Volume I Vertebrates and Vascular Plants (ISBN 1-85716-406-
7) http://www.ukbap.org.uk/
* UK Biodiversity Group: Tranche 2 Action Plans - Volume II - Terrestrial and Freshwater Habitats (ISBN 1 85716
422 9) http://www.ukbap.org.uk/
* UK Biodiversity Group: Tranche 2 Action Plans - Volume III - Plants & Fungi (ISBN 1 85716 445 8) http://
www.ukbap.org.uk/
* UK Biodiversity Group: Tranche 2 Action Plans - Volume IV- Invertebrates (ISBN 1 85716 448 2) http://www.
ukbap.org.uk/
* UK Biodiversity Group: Tranche 2 Action Plans - Volume V- Maritime Species and Habitats (ISBN 1 85716
4679) http://www.ukbap.org.uk/
* UK Biodiversity Group: Tranche 2 Action Plans - Volume VI - Terrestrial and Freshwater Species and Habitats
(ISBN 1 85716 4687) http://www.ukbap.org.uk/
* UK Biodiversity Group - Index to Steering Group Report and Tranche 2 Action Plans (ISBN 1 85716 4768)
Free from Biodiversity Policy Unit and http://www.ukbap.org.uk/
* Sustaining the Variety of Life: 5 years of the UK Biodiversity Action Plan http://www.ukbap.org.uk/
* Government Response to the UK Biodiversity Report Sustaining the Variety of Life: 5 years of the UK
Biodiversity Action Plan http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/ewd/rrrpac/biodiv/bioresp.pdf
* Biodiversity News - quarterly newsletter. Free from Biodiversity Policy Unit and http://www.ukbap.org.uk/
* Biodiversity - Lead Partner Telephone Directory. Free from Biodiversity Policy Unit.
* Guidance for Local Biodiversity Action Plans:
Guidance Note (GN) 1 - An Introduction
GN 2 - Developing Partnerships
GN 3 - How Local Biodiversity Action Plans Relate to Other Plans
GN 4 - Evaluating Priorities and Setting Targets for Habitats and Species
GN 5 - Delivery Mechanisms. DOE & Local Government Management Board, 1997. Available free from
Biodiversity Policy Unit
GN6 - Education - Awareness to Action. CEE and England Biodiversity Group, 2000. Available free from
Biodiversity Policy Unit
* Business and Biodiversity: Available free from Earthwatch Tel. 01865 318800
* Putting a Bit Back: a Guide to Nature Conservation for Small to Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). Available
free from Earthwatch Tel. 01865 318800
* Making Biodiversity Happen: Supplementary consultation paper in the Opportunities for Change Series.
Reference only. Available from DEFRA Publications Tel. 08459 556000
* Local Biodiversity Action Plan Case Studies
www.treeappeal.com
The Convention on Biological Diversity
The Convention on Biological Diversity was one of several major initiatives stemming from the Earth Summit
in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, which together form an International Agreement on sustainable development.
The United Kingdom was one of 150 signatories to the Convention, which reects a world-wide concern
that human activities are changing and destroying habitats and natural ecosystems on an increasing scale,
with unprecedented loss of species. Signatories
recognised that action must be taken to halt
this global loss of animal and plant species
and genetic resources and that each country
has the primary responsibility to conserve and
enhance biodiversity within its own jurisdiction.
At the same time, they agreed to develop
national strategies, plans and programmes
for the conservation and sustainable use of
biological diversity, and to share resources to help
implement such programmes. The Convention on
Biological Diversity is essentially a commitment
to conserving and sustaining the variety of life
on earth. For further information on international
biodiversity, please visit: www.biodiv.org/
Greater Spotted Woodpecker
www.treeappeal.com
Government Strategy
The following information is taken from DEFRAs consultation
document, Englands trees, woods and forests
Woodland covers almost 9% of Englands land area, with around 2 billion trees on just over 1 million hectares
of which 340,000 ha is ancient woodland and plantations on ancient woodland sites. England was once largely
tree covered, but as long as 1,000 years ago mans activities had reduced the forest to about 15% of the land
area. Yet today we use less than 25% of the hardwood timber that could be harvested sustainably from our na-
tive woodlands.
Roughly three-quarters of our woodlands and forests are privately owned while the rest, in public owner-
ship, are mainly large, mature conifer plantations managed by the Forestry Commission. In contrast, Englands
private woodlands are mostly broadleaved and are smaller, generally less than 100 hectares. About a quarter of
private woodlands are on farm holdings. There are of course many other trees outside woodlands in elds,
hedgerows, orchards, gardens, parks and streets.
The England Forestry Strategy A New Focus for Englands Woodland (1998) set out a broad agenda for for-
estry and highlighted the numerous public benets that trees and woods could provide. It acted as a catalyst
in changing the way we look at woodlands, their effect on our lives and the benets they bring to society. It
introduced new ideas for forestry and has seen them through into mainstream practice. At the time of publica-
tion the Government said it would review the Strategy within 10 years. We think it is now an appropriate time
to carry out that review and build on the current Strategys successes in the light of new Government policies
and the growing evidence base on the contribution of trees, woods and forests to the wider sustainable devel-
opment agenda, for example on health and well-being.
Sustainable development will be at the heart of our policies on trees, woods and forests, as it is in the current
Strategy. The UK Government has recently made a commitment to pursue the goal of sustainable development
in an integrated way through a sustainable, innovative and productive economy that delivers high levels of
employment; and a just society that promotes social inclusion, sustainable communities and personal well-be-
ing. This will be done in ways that protect and enhance the physical and natural environment, and use resourc-
es and energy as efciently as possible
2
. The new UK Sustainable Development Strategy identies four priority
areas for action:
climate change and energy;
natural resource protection and environmental enhancement;
sustainable consumption and production; and
sustainable communities.
Sustainably managed trees, woods and forests will have an important role in delivering all of these priorities
in both rural and urban areas, through an integrated approach based on an understanding of ecosystems and
environmental limits
3
.
2 Securing the future: delivering UK sustainable development strategy (2005), HM Government
3 http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-countryside/natres/ecosystem.htm
www.treeappeal.com
Sustainability requires that one Government policy or action should not frustrate the purpose of another, or
cause net environmental harm. The UK Government will full its international commitment to implement
sustainable forest management as: The stewardship and use of forests and forest lands in a way, and at a rate,
that maintains their biodiversity, productivity, regeneration capacity, vitality and their potential to full, now
and in the future, relevant ecological, economic and social functions, at local, national, and global levels, and
that does not cause damage to other ecosystems
4

Sustainable development and management of trees, woods and forests will help to achieve several other new
Government policies including:
England Biodiversity
Strategy 2002
5
, which
sets out priority actions
to protect woodland
from threats and enhance
both woodland and non-
woodland habitats (such
as lowland heathland) and
their characteristic species.
This is supported by
Keepers of Time
6
, which is
a more specic expression
of Government policy on
ancient and semi-natural
woodlands;
UK Climate Change
Programme
7
, which aims
to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions and the Biomass
Task Force report to government in 2005 made proposals to optimise the contribution of biomass to a range
of Government targets on climate change and energy;
Sustainable Communities Plan 2003
8
, which tackles housing supply and the quality of our public spaces;
trees and woods will be an important part of a high quality green infrastructure network;
Rural Strategy 2004
9
, which presents three priorities for the countryside: economic and social regeneration,
social justice and enhancing the value of our countryside; and the
Sustainable Food and Farming Strategy
10
, which has a key principle that viable livelihoods should be made
from sustainable land management, both through the market and through payments for public benets. This
applies equally to farm woodlands and food production.
The arrangements for delivering Government policy have changed signicantly during the life of the current
Forestry Strategy, with both decision making and delivery devolved more to a regional level.
Red Squirrel
www.treeappeal.com
4 Second Ministerial Conference on the Protection of Forests in Europe (1993), RESOLUTION H1 General Guidelines for the Sus-
tainable Management of Forests in Europe, Helsinki (Finland)
5 Working with the Grain of Nature: A Biodiversity Strategy for England (2002), Defra
6 Keepers of Time: A statement of policy for Englands ancient and native woodlands (2005), Forestry Commission and Defra
7 Climate Change: The UK Programme (2000), DETR
8 Sustainable Communities: Building For The Future (2003), ODPM
9 Rural Strategy 2004, Defra
10 The Strategy for Sustainable Farming and Food: Facing the Future (2002), Defra
11 http://www.defra.gov.uk/rural/strategy/chapter4.htm
12 In Rural Strategy 2004, as part of the streamlining and simplication of rural funding, the Government committed to creating
a single Environmental Land Management Fund (ELMF), bringing together existing grants currently operated through the Rural
Development Service, English Nature, the Countryside Agency and the Forestry Commission. The introduction and development
of ELMF will be an evolutionary process (starting in 2007 and continuing until around 2009). The English Woodland Grant
Scheme will continue into the next Rural Development Programme period, although there are likely to be changes over time
to ensure it ts the new funding framework. The Forestry Commission will remain the delivery body for the English Woodland
Grant Scheme, aligned with Natural England who will deliver grant schemes currently managed by the Rural Development
Service, English Nature and the Countryside Agency.
13 A new integrated agency to champion the environment, nature conservation, landscape and recreation (http://www.defra.gov.
uk/rural/ruraldelivery/natural-england.htm).
Policies for trees, woods and forests will be integrated into wider land use and planning policy through
regional policy documents including the Regional Forestry Frameworks, Regional Rural Delivery Frameworks,
Regional Spatial Strategies and Regional Economic Strategies. As set out in Rural Strategy 2004, Defra will
devolve control of socioeconomic funding to Regional Development Agencies (RDAs)
11
, while sustainable
management of both farmland and woodland will be supported by the new Environmental Land Management
Fund
12
and delivered by Natural England
13
and the Forestry Commission working in partnership.
We want to produce a new strategy for trees, woods and forests that reects these changes and is a high-level
statement of policy that clearly sets out Governments national priorities. The new Strategy will be supported
by an action plan developed by the Forestry Commission and the newly established Natural England.
This consultation looks at the opportunities and challenges for the sector, then denes the role of
Government and discusses the Government priorities which we think should be the basis of the new strategy.
www.treeappeal.com
Challenges and opportunities
To make decisions about something as long-term as woodland management, we have to think hard about the
challenges and opportunities facing the sector in, at least, the next ten years:
Globalisation is a major issue. The price of timber has been falling for years and is now about a quarter of
what it was in the 1980s, and cheap timber imports are likely to be available for some time. This will be a big
challenge for Englands woodland owners and many woodlands will not make money from timber sales alone.
Sustainable land management and sustainable products are important to both Government and to
individual consumers. Wood is increasingly recognised as a sustainable material, especially in the construc-
tion industry, linked to other benets of woodland management such as maintaining biodiversity. This is true
of wood from sustainably managed forests anywhere in the world but locally sourced timber will use less
energy in transportation. We need to capitalise on this in promoting the use of wood versus other materials. In
addition we need to ensure that the environmental services woodland provides are protected and enhanced
through ecosystem-based approaches like sustainable forest management.
Climate change seems already to be having an impact on our weather, and the pressing need to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and manage water resources more effectively will have a major impact on wood-
land policy. We also need to consider how climate change will directly and indirectly affect other woodland
benets such as natural resource protection.
Wildlife has been in serious decline but there are signs that, for some woodland species and habitats, changes
to the way that woods are created and managed (including their removal to restore open habitats) are be-
ginning to halt or reverse these trends. We need to continue to adapt our approach to the conservation and
enhancement of woodlands to reect the changing pressures to which our wildlife is subjected e.g. urban
development; eutrophication and other environmental factors; and damage caused by introduced and other
species.
Urban development is being driven by the rising demand for housing. People are asking how this can be
met, and looking for green space to go with acceptable new housing development. Trees and woodland can be
used to create more attractive settings for new development and regenerate those areas that are damaged and
derelict. More habitats for wildlife are needed in and around our towns and cities to secure future biodiversity
and bring the benets of the natural environment closer to people.
Patterns of rural land use and ownership may change as farmers adjust their businesses to the new Single
Payment Scheme. Some marginal land may be farmed less intensively, offering the possibility of natural wood-
land colonisation or planting with conventional woodland or biomass crops. At the same time the price of
some woodland areas has risen above the level that reects their timber value, as more and more people seek
to buy a rural lifestyle.
The balance between regulation and incentive is important we have all become used to Government
looking hard for real evidence of public benet when it spends taxpayers money. At the same time, it seeks to
allow people the freedom to manage their lives and their land, while maintaining safeguards on the environ-
ment. Forestry has a particular problem in that the delivery of real benets may occur many years after the
cost is incurred, so providing certain evidence of return on money spent can be difcult.
www.treeappeal.com
Environmental sustainability
Trees, woods and forests are a dominant feature of both rural and urban landscapes. Their longevity ensures
that soils, seed banks and drainage patterns remain essentially undisturbed for a long time; hundreds of
years in the case of ancient woodlands. This continuity has meant that trees and woodlands have been able
to accumulate biodiversity, store carbon and become an essential element of the wider ecosystem within a
landscape.
Climate change
The global climate is changing,
largely because mans activities
have released carbon dioxide
(CO2) and other greenhouse
gases into the atmosphere.
Deforestation, mainly in the
tropics, has contributed to
these emissions but trees and
woodlands can also help us
to deal with climate change
through carbon sequestration,
by providing woodfuel as
a substitute for fossil fuels;
timber to substitute for other
products; and by protecting
natural resources, particularly
soil and water.
Carbon sequestration
Sequestration is the uptake and storage of carbon by trees and other vegetation. Planting trees to absorb
carbon is recognised as a way of enhancing the carbon sink to compensate for CO
2
emissions from fossil
fuels. Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol the UK
Government is committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 12.5% of the 1990 total by 2008/12. This
is equivalent to 21 MtC/year. A more demanding UK target has also been set, to cut CO
2
emissions by 20% by
2020, equivalent to 30 MtC/year.
Woodland which has been established since 1990 will remove an average of 0.265 MtC per year between
2006 and 2020, assuming that annual planting continues at current levels. However, the dynamics of tree
growth mean that increasing the rate of woodland creation now would have limited impact on these targets,
because maximum carbon sequestration would be achieved after 2020. As an illustration, tripling the area
planted annually (from 4,500 ha to 12,223 ha) between 2006 and 2020 would only realise relatively modest
increases in annual sequestration of 0.023 MtC in 2010 rising to 0.288 MtC in 2020 and 0.290 MtC in 2035.
The contribution of woodland creation to carbon savings is worthwhile but limited. A more
signicant contribution would mean a large increase in planting rates. The area of land required
for planting to make a major contribution to carbon sequestration targets far exceeds that which is likely to
become available. All contributions to meeting the challenging emissions reduction targets are valuable, but
we do not believe that carbon sequestration alone is a reason for supporting afforestation, although it is an
important additional gain from managing and planting woodlands and forests for other public benets. This
strengthens the case for targeted, multi-purpose woodland creation.
We also need to protect the existing carbon sequestration capacity of our woodlands, including the forest
soils which represent a much larger carbon reservoir than the trees
22
. It is important for owners to follow soil
conservation guidelines on current best practice
23
.
The overall trend in England
is still one of afforestation,
with deforestation of around
1,000 hectares a year more
than compensated for by new
woodland creation at a rate of
around 4,500 hectares a year.
The deforestation gure includes
some 500-1,000 hectares a year,
that is restored to priority open
habitat. The majority of these
are mature conifer woodlands
that would have been felled
anyway in a conventional
rotation. The current balance of
woodland removal and creation
is adequate to ensure that we
do not diminish the existing
carbon sink, although it is vital
that managers follow guidance
on best practice to avoid soil
disturbance and so protect the
soil carbon store. However, if the rate of deforestation for open habitat restoration increases, we should take
steps to ensure the carbon sink is not reduced.
22 Poulton PR (1996). Geescroft Wilderness, 1883-1995. In: evaluation of soil organic matter models using existing long-term
datasets, eds DS Powlson, P Smith and JU Smith. NATO ASI Series I, vol 38.
23 Forests and soil conservation guidelines (1998), Forestry Commission, Edinburgh
www.treeappeal.com
Song Thrush
www.treeappeal.com
Biodiversity
Woodland habitats, and ancient woodland in particular, are among the most biologically rich of all our
terrestrial habitats. The UK Biodiversity Action Plan
29
(BAP) has ve priority woodland habitats and 65 priority
species associated with woodland, including the high brown fritillary buttery, the red squirrel and the
bullnch.
The richest biodiversity is often found in woodlands that have a long history on a site and are now
actively and sensitively managed (maybe with a very light touch). Much effort has gone into improving the
management of woodland Sites of Special Scientic Interest (SSSIs) and by the autumn of last year 76% of
them were in favourable or recovering condition
30
. We know less about the condition of native woodlands
outside SSSIs but the information we have suggests a 36% decline in plant diversity since 1971
31
. More
encouragingly, the rate at which most woodland bird populations are declining seems to have slowed down
but we are still concerned about some woodland specialists including the spotted ycatcher (down 85% since
the 1980s)
32
.
The challenge for the Strategy and our delivery partners will be to improve habitat quality by bringing
more woodland into sensitive management, whilst continuing to enhance the biodiversity in good quality
woodlands and protecting all woodlands from pests and other damage.
Managing for biodiversity is important, not just within the woodlands, but also in the wider countryside,
in order to create a mosaic of semi-natural habitats which provide corridors for wildlife and help to buffer
valuable sites, particularly ancient woodlands, from external impacts such as pesticide drift. This landscape-
scale approach is a recognised part of our policy for Natura 2000
33
, and will become even more important in
future, given the prospect of rapid climate change.
Government objectives to protect and improve the wildlife value of our woodlands are framed within the
Biodiversity Strategy for England
34
, with more specic commitments in the new UK Habitat and Species
Action Plan targets which will be agreed in 2006 and in the recent policy statement on ancient and semi-
natural woodlands Keepers of Time
35
. Government has also set out policy and action plans for addressing
threats from certain pests in Grey Squirrels and Englands Woodlands
36
and The Sustainable Management of
Wild Deer Populations in England
37
. Our priorities are to:
sustain and enhance the biodiversity of Englands woodlands and ancient trees, reverse the long-term
decline in woodland species as revealed by trends in groups such as birds, bats and butteries with high
priority given to native and ancient woodlands;
bring woodland SSSIs into favourable condition;
implement the UK Biodiversity Action Plans (BAP) for woodland habitats and priority species;
improve the landscape context of woodland; and
protect woodland biodiversity from damage for example from deer, densely shading non-native trees, farm
livestock, and invasive plants and animals.
29 Biodiversity: The UK Action Plan (1994), HMSO
30 Unpublished data, English Nature Sites and Surveillance Team
31 Kirby, K.J., Smart, S.M., Black, H.I.J., Bunce, R.G.H, Corney,P.M.and Smithers,R.J. (2005), Long term ecological
change in British woodland (1971-2001), Peterborough: English Nature (Research Report 653)
32 Report by BTO and RSPB to Defra, FC, English Nature and the Woodland Trust
33 COUNCIL DIRECTIVE 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and ora (as
subsequently amended). Article 10: Member States shall endeavour, where they consider it necessary, in their land-use planning
and development policies and, in particular, with a view to improving the ecological coherence of the Natura 2000 network,
to encourage the management of features of the landscape which are of major importance for wild fauna and ora. Such
features are those which, by virtue of their linear and continuous structure (such as rivers with their banks or the traditional
systems for marking eld boundaries) or their function as stepping stones (such as ponds or small woods), are essential for the
migration, dispersal and genetic exchange of wild species.
34 Working with the Grain of Nature: A Biodiversity Strategy for England (2003), Defra
35 Keepers of Time: A statement of policy for Englands ancient and native woodlands (2005), Forestry Commission and Defra
36 Grey Squirrels and Englands Woodlands: Policy and Action (2006), Forestry Commission
37 The Sustainable Management of Wild Deer Populations in England: Policy and Action (2004), Forestry Commission
Landscape
Trees and woodlands are vital elements of Englands rural and urban landscapes including some of our n-
est landscapes, such as National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Field, hedgerow and street
trees, individually or in small groups, are dening features of many landscape character areas; veteran trees in
particular are increasingly recognised as having great ecological and cultural value. Of course, landscape is not
just about existing heritage but also about using trees to create new landscapes in both urban and rural areas,
as the achievements of the National Forest and the Community Forests have shown.
Social sustainability
Woods and trees inform our sense of place, and have long been important to local and national culture and
history. Their role in securing both quality of life and social inclusion is developing fast. Woodlands and trees
in and around cities, towns and villages, and in our streets and gardens are particularly valuable. They act as
an attractive green setting for housing and other development, screen transport corridors, regenerate derelict
land, harbour wildlife, provide shade, lter air pollution and provide sites for recreation close to where people
live. Woodlands offer an attractive outdoor setting for community activities such as education and volunteer-
ing, as well as contributing to mental and spiritual well-being
41
. In addition to these social and environmental
benets, urban woodland can generate economic benets, for instance by improving the attractiveness of an
area to inward investment.
41 Trees Matter! Bringing Lasting Benets to People in Towns (2005), NUFU/Trees for Cities.
www.treeappeal.com
www.treeappeal.com
Public access to woodlands
The opportunity to have contact with nature close to home can have a positive impact on peoples quality of
life and health, and woodlands are a popular choice for outdoor access an estimated 222 million woodland
visits were made during 2002/0342. At present around half the population has access to larger woods (20
hectares or more) within four kilometres of where they live
43
.
The Governments national planning policies require local authorities to assess the needs of local
communities for open spaces, to plan to meet those needs
44
, and also to protect existing open spaces
where necessary. This includes woodlands that are urban green spaces and also those which are part of the
accessible countryside in urban fringe areas. We would recommend all local authorities to consider the value
of woodland in their open space provision, and to make efforts to increase the numbers of people seeking to
use these woodlands.
We believe that the social benets of woodland access are sufcient justication for continuing to encourage
access to woodland as a national priority
45
. The new Strategy will emphasise the effective use of existing
woodlands where they are available and where access and biodiversity objectives can be balanced. In places
with little existing woodland close to where people live, and a lack of other high quality green space, support
for woodland creation will be appropriate. Targeting this investment to meet social needs and provide value
for money will be important, and a regional and local approach will be essential.
Targeting is not just a geographic issue. Diversity and inclusion must be drivers for encouraging access to
woodland, in line with Government policies to reduce social and health inequity. The priority will be to
identify areas of signicant social disadvantage where people would benet from better access to a quality
environment and the opportunities for activity that woodland offers. It will be important to improve physical
access to woods where there is already legal access, provide better information and take positive action to
attract users from diverse social and cultural groups.
42 Great Britain Day Visits Survey 2002/3. A survey undertaken by the Countryside Agency, Countryside Council for Wales, British
Waterways, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Environment Agency, Forestry Commission, Scottish Natural Heritage,
VisitBritain, VisitScotland and Wales Tourist Board. Available from www.countryside.gov.uk.
43 Space for People (2004), The Woodland Trust
44 Planning Policy Guidance note 17: Planning for Open Space, Sport and Recreation (PPG17) (2002), ODPM
45 Crabtree R with Willis K, Selman P and Tucker G (2005), Review of Evidence for the Formulation of Forestry Policy in England,
Defra
www.treeappeal.com
Health
Increasing physical activity of the population is an important aim and as part of its delivery plan
46
the
Government has agreed a health concordat with key delivery bodies, including the Forestry Commission, to
encourage outdoor activities as a means of improving peoples health and well being. Schemes such as the
Walking for Health Initiative and Green Gyms are already helping people get more active and last year the
Active Woods campaign ran over 1,000 events and activities, including organised runs and Tai Chi.
The central contribution of the new Strategy to
the Governments health agenda will be to ensure
that suitable, accessible woodlands contribute
to a network of open green spaces available for
everyone. Decisions on projects to encourage the
use of woodlands for outdoor activity should be
made locally.
Recreation
People benet from opportunities to use woodland
for walking and for more specialised recreation
such as mountain biking, horse riding, game
shooting and even husky racing. Woodlands are
particularly good at absorbing a large number of
users relative to their size. It is estimated that forests
and woodland in Great Britain provide recreational
benets worth 354million a year and that much
of this is provided free of charge
47
. Many of these
activities also help to support local jobs in tourist
accommodation, catering and other businesses.
Experience has shown that public investment in
high quality facilities such as play areas and cycle
tracks can signicantly increase participation
rates, delivering physical and mental health benets.
Trees within the green infrastructure
The quality of life in urban areas is enormously enhanced by well-planned green infrastructure and its impact
may be particularly dramatic in areas of high environmental or social deprivation. In the most deprived areas
of the UK only 46% of people say they enjoy where they live, in comparison to 79% in the least deprived
areas
48
. Projects like Newlands in Greater Manchester have improved degraded urban environments
49
, and in
the 12 Community Forests the rate of planting increased by 25% under the England Forestry
Strategy (EFS), with 5,783 hectares of new woodland planted between 1998/99 and 2004/05,
supported by Government funding through the Forestry Commission and the Community
Woodland special locational supplement. There is also useful experience to draw on from the Growth
Areas where infrastructure needs have been considered and barriers to growth and regeneration have
been addressed locally. This includes the development of Green Infrastructure Strategies to inform Local
Development Frameworks.
Developing the social outputs from green infrastructure is as important as managing the physical resource
itself. Increasingly people are becoming involved in the management and use of their local woodland, often
through community forestry projects. For example, more than one hundred Forest Schools in England now
offer children, young people and adults local opportunities to develop their condence through learning in
woodlands, forming an important element of the Governments drive to re-engage children with the outdoors;
there are around 10,000 volunteers working as tree wardens around the country; over 250 local groups in
the Woodland Trusts community woodland network; and 115 in the Woodland Initiatives Network. Design of
urban tree planting is improving to meet such needs and the experience of the Community Forests and the
National Forest is particularly valuable. Community forestry should play an important role in linking people
with their environment and in helping all sectors of the community to enjoy Englands trees and woodlands
and the benets they offer.
Trees within a network of linked green spaces should be an integral part of the planning and development
of our existing and future urban landscapes. This green infrastructure is an essential part of creating places
where people want to live and needs to be given equal consideration alongside the provision of transport,
education and health infrastructures. Woodland in and around towns and on land damaged by development
will be a national priority for woodland creation and management. This is also supported through planning
policy.
50
Delivery partners at a regional and local level will need to take a wider, integrated view of the woodland
resource and its relationship to development and community needs, and to agree green infrastructure
objectives for their area to complement the existing provision of trees and woodlands.
46 Choosing Activity: a physical activity action plan (2005), Department of Health
47 Willes , K. G., G. Garrod, R. Scarpa, N. Power, A. Lovett, I.J. Bateman, N. Hanley and D. C. Macmillan (2003). The Social and
Environmental Benets of Forests in Great Britain. Report to Forestry Commission, Edinburgh. Centre for Environmental
Appraisal and Management, University of Newcastle upon Tyne.
48 2001 Home Ofce Citizenship Survey: people, families and communities (2003), Home Ofce
49 http://www.redroseforest.co.uk/forestpro/newlands.html
50 Planning Policy Guidance note 3 : Housing (PPG3) (Updated 2005), ODPM
www.treeappeal.com
www.treeappeal.com
Managing urban trees
Individual trees in gardens, streets and parks are of great importance in our towns and cities. They enhance
the appearance of an area, as well as ltering noise and providing privacy. However, urban environments
can be very hostile to trees and our urban trees need to be carefully managed, especially new plantings. A
signicant proportion of urban trees die prematurely, particularly new plantings. Figures suggest that mortality
rates are 27% in public open spaces and 29% for trees by highways
51
. These gures are much lower in areas
where there is investment in post planting maintenance of trees. In addition there are conicts between older
trees and the built environment. Local authorities have their own processes to assess and manage the risk
presented by trees, and Government advice on tree strategies is available
52
. Planning for the management of
urban woodlands and individual trees, both on streets and in gardens, and how this ts into a wider strategy
for local green space and environmental quality, will be an issue for local decision making.
The historic environment
There is a growing awareness and appreciation of the historic value of woodlands and of the importance
of features within them. In landscapes heavily modied in recent times woodlands may be protecting the
remaining evidence of historic land use such as older settlements and earthworks. However trees do not
always make a positive contribution insensitive conifer plantations have previously marred treasured upland
landscapes and archaeological features may be susceptible to damage from root growth or wind throw. The
cultural heritage associated with woodland offers a great opportunity to inspire local communities, involve
children and engage woodland owners. We must continue working to identify and protect unscheduled sites
and features within woodland and to provide people with information about them.
51 Trees in Towns (1994), HMSO and DoE
52 Urban Tree Strategies (1994), DoE
www.treeappeal.com
The overall amount of woodland planting and
woodland management
A key feature of the new Strategy will be its focus on targeted action to deliver the national priorities identi-
ed earlier in this chapter, targeted at a regional and local level where maximum public benet will accrue. To
summarise, these priorities are:
Environmental sustainability Ensuring
that existing trees and woodlands contribute
to reducing greenhouse gas emissions
by substituting for fossil fuels in energy
production and manufacturing; understanding
and using woodlands to protect the resources
of soil, water and air; ensuring woodlands
are robust enough to adapt to climate
change; delivering BAP targets on woodland
habitats and open habitats; managing trees
and woodlands to enhance and protect the
landscape and historic features.
Social sustainability Promoting access
to woodland close to where people live,
for health and recreation; increasing the
contribution of trees and woods to a network
of open spaces, local environmental quality,
social inclusion and community engagement
in urban areas; using trees and woodlands to
rehabilitate degraded urban landscapes; and
improving awareness of the value of urban
trees.
Economic sustainability Assisting the
industry to adapt to emerging markets
through capacity building, skills and
knowledge transfer and supply chain
initiatives; support for business development
through the Rural Development Programme
for England 2007-13 will be targeted by
Regional Development Agencies having regard
to the priority to help those rural areas whose economies are lagging behind the region.
Yellowhammer
www.treeappeal.com
What David Bellamy says
The planting of the right native trees in the right ecological setting not
only enhances the natural process of soil formation and stabilisation but
increases the native biodiversity of the area. It is also generally recognised
that an average tree throughout its growing lifetime sequesters something
in the region of 730kg of carbon dioxide.
Prof, Dr David J Bellamy OBE, PhD Hon; DSc, FLS, FBiol
www.treeappeal.com
Professor David Bellamy OBE is a patron of Tree Appeal. He has been planting
trees all his life and has this to say:
TREES and US!
(People and trees are mainly made of water and carbon)
Planting trees proves that your Company cares about the future.
Trees are solar powered, self-repairing, protectors of landscapes and lifestyles.
Planting the right trees in the right place is real cool.
Above ground they provide:
Shade from the heat of the sun
Shelter, from the wind
Green leaf Air conditioning
Screens from atmospheric pollution
Homes, habitats and food, for plants and animals
Hold carbon dioxide in living store
Below ground they:
Build, protect and stabilise healthy soils.
Reduce and reuse natural waste
Recycle all useful nutrients
Sustain an incredible diversity of living things
Store carbon ready for recycling
Trees provide around half the human population with energy
for heating and cooking.
Plant trees and do your bit to
stitch our world back into more
sustainable working order.
SHOW YOUR COMPANY REALLY
CARES. PLANT TREES!
Ash Trcc
A Biiisl and Euiopcan naivc spccics icquiiing a faiiIy miId
cIimac and mois hu wcII diaincd aIkaIinc soiIs of modciac o
ligl fciiIiy.
Bccch Trcc
Slady summci giccn hccclwoods aic a dcIigl o scc and waIk in.
Bcccl is pocniaIIy a Iaigc icc wlicl is lougl o hc naivc in lc
soul of Biiain.
SiIvcr Birch Trcc
A ougl loiouglIy laidy pioncci icc la no onIy Iooks good
wil is giaccfuI siIvci scms and ycIIow auumn Icavcs. 1lis Biiisl
naivc spccics aIso hcncfis wiIdIifc and lc cnviionmcn wlcicvci
i is pIancd. SiIvci hiicl is claiacciisic of sandy lcals hu wiII
oIciac a widc iangc of olci siuaions.
Bird Chcrry Trcc
1lis Biiisl naivc icc pioduccs a finc dispIay of wlic aImond
sccncd fIowcis in spiing. 1lcy aic cicc iaccmcs uniI fciiIiscd hy
hccs lcn spicading oi pcnduIous. SmaII cIuscis of ovoid hici
gIossy-hIack hciiics foIIow. Biid clciiy is a sliuhhy woodIand cdgc
icc. I is wind fiim, pIian and iohus. 1lc Icavcs uin oiangc-icd in
lc auumn.
Common AIdcr Trcc
A vaIuahIc Biiisl naivc icc spccics la is known o diiccIy
suppoi ovci 9u diffcicn oiganisms. I wiII giow on wc sics la
aic no oo acid oi fIoodcd foi Iong pciiods.
www.treeappeal.com
The right trees in the right places
By planting the right trees in the right places we are providing wildlife habitat for many hundreds of years and
passing on to future generations a fascinating and highly valuable ecological heritage.
The following are some of the trees identied by tree planting partners. They are all native broad-leaved trees
which will be planted in the appropriate regions and habitats throughout the country.
FicId MapIc Trcc
A dcciduous Biiisl naivc icc paiicuIaiIy vaIucd foi lc wiIdIifc i
suppois, is smaII sizc (scIdom ovci l8 mcics aII) and suhIc
auumn foIiagc coIoui.
HazcI Trcc
Biiisl naivc lazcI is cxccpionaIIy vaIuahIc foi wiIdIifc and lahia
conscivaion. I aIso piovidcs good foiaging and covci foi gamc.
EngIish Oak Trcc
1lc famiIiai common oi EngIisl oak is found acioss mos of
IowIand Biiain. Living oaks aic picuicsquc in lc iuiaI Iandscapc.
IndividuaIs may Iivc foi a lousand ycais and scms in cxccss of
375cm diamcci (ovci 38 fcc iound) aic known.
WiIIow Trcc
1lc gcnus SaIix conains 3uu-5uu spccics (axonomiss can no
agicc). 1lcsc may hc dwaif sliuhs, huslcs oi Iaigc iccs. Many aic
suiahIc foi oinamcnaI usc. Mos wiIIows oIciac wc giound (so
do no pIan ovci diains), hu no susaincd oaI immcision. 1lcy
aic good foi wiIdIifc hcing los o numcious lcihivoics incIuding
mammaIs and invcichiacs. 1lc Iaigci iccs coniihuc
mcaningfuIIy o lc wcIand Iandscapc. EIdciIy poIIaids quaIify as
vccian iccs.
Wych EIm Trcc
Wycl cIm is icpioduccd hy sccd and no hy suckciing so i is moic
icsisan o Ducl cIm discasc lan EngIisl cIm. In aicas wlcic lc
discasc is no Iongci picvaIcn pIaning may hc woilwliIc again.
1iccs oIciac cxposuic o coId, aii poIIuion and sca winds picy
wcII. Mos IowIand soiIs sui i vciy wcII and i aIso giows somc way
up Scoisl mounain sidcs. UnIikc EngIisl cIm lis spccics is a
Biiisl naivc.
www.treeappeal.com
www.treeappeal.com
Climate change
Climate change is really happening... Planting trees is a sustainable answer
Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our modern day world. There is now an
understanding of the basic mechanics of climate change; the world is warming, much of the
warming is due to human emissions of greenhouse gasses caused primarily from the burning of
fossil fuels.
The experts state that, globally, emissions of carbon dioxide must be reduced by at least 60%,
however presently the percentage is climbing and since the industrial revolution carbon dioxide
in the atmosphere has increased by 30%. Scientists predict that climate change will result in
more extreme weather patterns - more cyclones, oods and droughts. With such changes in
our climate, rising sea levels will threaten coastal environments, it will be harder to grow food
successfully, and the rate of species extinction will increase.
The natural process
of our living planet
produces a ne
balance between
oxygen and carbon
dioxide through
the respiration of
animals and the
photosynthesis of plants. Through the extensive history of our planet a considerable quantity
of carbon dioxide has been converted into carbon through the biomass of plants, and the shells
of sea creatures. At the end of their lifecycle, large quantities of sea creatures and plants have
been deposited to eventually produce coal, oil and sedimentary rocks and in so doing they have
acted as a mechanism to lock up carbon. This natural process has maintained the ne balance
between oxygen and carbon dioxide; however the problem starts when we start realising carbon
stored over millions of years in the timeframe of only 250 years in the form of carbon dioxide
and a cocktail of many other greenhouse gasses. Sedimentary rocks and fossil fuels are known as
carbon sinks and the only effective way to help offset the carbon released from these sinks into
our atmosphere is to use our planets natural long-term carbon sinks which are trees.
Forests throughout the world contain 45% of the global stock of carbon; however global
deforestation is reducing our planets ability to cope with the increase in carbon dioxide and
the process is further adding carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Trees are the longest lived
organism on the planet and over a hundred year period one tree will lock up approximately
200kg of carbon. If our planet is to have a future as we presently know and enjoy we all have a
www.treeappeal.com
responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint, we must make an effort to reduce and offset our
modern day carbon dioxide emissions.
By planting trees we all can seriously help to offset our individual carbon dioxide emissions
reducing our individual carbon footprint. However tree saplings have to be bought, land found on
which to plant them and then they need to be managed through the early stages of their life.
Tree Appeal is not a charity. It is a marketing initiative which enables companies to make a
positive contribution to the environment through the planting of native broad-leaved trees
- and receive the appropriate credit.
Tree Appeal takes care of the logistics of planting your trees, giving third party recognition
for doing so, assisting with the organisation of high prole PR plantings, providing
environmental celebrities when required, and most importantly giving you a strong USP by
granting Tree Appeal exclusivity in your market sector.
Tree Appeal has established itself as a green Dolby accreditation. Every market sector
which adopts and uses the Tree Appeal logo and carries out high prole marketing and PR
activity is assisting in raising the awareness for all those who use the Tree Appeal brand.
The secret to the success of Tree Appeal is to integrate tree planting into your product
offering which gives your customers the satisfaction of knowing that they made a
contribution to the planting of a tree.
What Tree Appeal does for you:
You are 'Seen to be Green'
It differentiates your business with a unique selling point
You raise your prole, locally and
It helps reduce your
carbon footprint
Why become a Tree Appeal Partner?
www.treeappeal.com

Why We Plant Trees

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Why We Plant Trees

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Why we plant trees

passionate about trees

You might also like