Rekindling the tree-people connection in our urban landscapes
A Guest blog by Sarah Shorley, Urban Projects Officer at the Woodland Trust
“‘Silver linings’ feels a strange term to use in these times. Nevertheless, there is one that really sticks out – the nation is well and truly embracing the natural world” – these words from Jack Taylor, Lead Campaigner at Woodland Trust, ring true.
With the current lockdown restrictions, more and more people are noticing and enjoying the trees on their doorsteps - from street trees through to trees in local parks, green spaces and urban woodlands. It’s wonderful to see the public so warmly appreciating their leafy neighbours and rekindling the connection to trees and woods that we all once had. There has never been a better time to reawaken this relationship in our urban localities.
More than half of the UK’s 408 local authorities have declared a climate emergency. We know that planting more trees and protecting existing established trees is vital to creating more resilient urban landscapes. Trees lock up carbon, fight flooding, reduce pollution, provide homes for wildlife and improve the health and wellbeing of local communities. Ensuring trees are front and centre in how we adapt and respond to climate change will require engagement from cross sector organisations, businesses, government, schools, community groups and individuals. We all have a role to play.
Charter for Trees, Woods and People (Tree Charter)
In 2017 the Woodland Trust launched The Charter for Trees, Woods and People (The Tree Charter). The Tree Charter was written by over 70 partner organisations, more than 100,000 members of the public and at least 300 community groups. It offers 10 guiding principles* that define the relationship between people and trees in the 21st Century and calls for a stronger future in which Trees and woods are put back at the centre of national decision making, and back at the heart of our lives and communities. Changing the way we all think about trees, how we value and include them in our lives, and what we do to defend and care for them is the key to turning the Tree Charter into a way of life. We’ve been blown away by some of the creative ways communities across the UK have been highlighting and celebrating their urban trees!
Our Tree Charter Toolkit contains tips and tools for bringing the Tree Charter to Life and the Woodland Trust has a range of resources to help you enjoy and protect trees and woods near you, including resources for young people and schools and through a range of citizen science tools. For example:
You can get involved in mapping urban tree canopy cover with i-tree
Help us monitor pests and diseases through Observatree
Help us protect ancient trees near you by recording them on the Ancient Tree Inventory
Help record and monitor seasonal changes on Nature’s Calendar
Embracing and celebrating our urban trees
You may have a valued and much loved urban tree near you! If you do, please nominate it for our Tree of the Year competition and you may get to shine a national spotlight on it!
If you’re eager to learn even more about urban trees please take a listen to our urban trees (Leeds) podcast, check out our urban woodland management guides, find out more about our street trees work and how are engaging Local Councils with our Emergency Tree Plan for the UK.
We’re always happy to hear from you! If you have any questions about our work to support urban trees or would like some advice in what more you can do please do get in touch at streettrees@woodlandtrust.org.uk.
