The Woodland Trust is in the midst of a major campaign – The Big Climate Fightback. It’s an initiative – and a way of thinking – that we support.
The big idea is to “fight for the future of the planet by being one in a million people pledging to support tree planting on 30 November 2019.”
If you’re wondering why it’s the 30th November, well, that’s all about nature! Traditionally, November is the start of the tree planting season organised by the Tree Council. It’s also Tree Charter Day – which is a national celebration of trees and woods.
So, why are they doing it? Well, as the Woodland Trust puts it so well:
“Every tree counts. Trees are the ultimate multi-taskers, helping to combat the two environmental emergencies facing our planet: climate change and biodiversity loss. They absorb carbon, fight flooding, reduce pollution, nurture wildlife and make landscapes more resilient.”
Their figures are startling too. The Woodland Trust says 1.5 billion trees need to be planted to help the UK reach ‘net zero’ by 2050.
It’s hard to argue with from a sustainability perspective isn’t it?
Of course, simply reducing our carbon emissions will never be enough. It’s vital we grow a UK-wide patchwork of trees and woods – not just by planting, but also through natural regeneration. The woods, hedges and green spaces we create buffer existing habitats, tackle climate change and reverse wildlife decline – all at the same time.
In our own business, we actively support the idea of giving back more than we take. In practice, this means we sponsor an ethical tree-planting project run by Grown in Britain. With our support, we hope such eco-friendly schemes will restore degraded woodlands and create productive, healthy and well-managed forests for the future.
Well, we’re encouraging our customers – whether they’re architects and specifiers, or property developers or end-customer employers, to think about the positive impacts of wide-scale tree planting – and the contribution it can make to delivering on net-zero goals. We believe it’s a perfect way for built environment professionals to do something practical as part of their own climate fightback. Making a pledge to plant trees at home, work – or even as part of development projects – would be a wonderful thing to do.
Or, if all this sounds like hard work – why not simply make a donation to the Woodland Trust so they can plant trees on your behalf?
In conclusion then, collectively, we all need to do more. – This campaign is a very good way to focus minds and attention on something that affects future generations.
If you want to get involved, you can make your pledge via The Woodland Trust.
