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Big Climate Fightback

Woodland Trust warns plant more trees or miss climate change targets

Woodland Trust has stark warnings on the health of the UK's trees and woods (Photo credit: WTML)

Player-supported charity Woodland Trust says we need to plant more trees and improve the state of our woods or miss vital climate change targets.

With trees one of the Government's top priorities at COP 26, the UK risks failing to meet its carbon net zero ambitions unless more trees are planted, woodland is restored and the condition of woods improved.

Making A Change

The stark prediction comes in Woodland Trust's third nationwide campaign - the Big Climate Fightback - to get people planting more trees.

The charity is sending more than 700,000 free native trees to schools and communities to kickstart an autumnal blitz on tree planting. A further 680,000 trees are available to apply for now for planting next March.

In total, the Woodland Trust will be sending out nearly 1.4 million free trees^ over the coming planting season to support the Big Climate Fightback, backed by players of People's Postcode Lottery.

Dr Darren Moorcroft is Chief Executive of the Woodland Trust, which is bidding to establish 50 million new trees by 2025. He said, "With recent decades warmer, wetter and sunnier than the 20th century and 2020 the third warmest year on record, it is clear we are in a climate crisis, but we are in a nature crisis too."

"This is a dismal and sobering picture. Our woods are not in great shape, and we remain one of the least wooded countries at 13% woodland cover, compared to 37% in the rest of Europe. Without greater action, small and fragmented woods will remain that way and species will face extinction. But it is not too late - things can change."

Impact Report

The Woodland Trust's recent State of the UK's Woods and Trees report highlighted some stark warnings on the health of the UK's trees and woods:

Woodlands are already impacted by climate change. Spring now arrives on average 8.4 days earlier than during the first part of the 20th century, which can be catastrophic for nature.
Woodland species are in steep decline. Woodland specialist birds have declined by over 80% since 1970.
Tree disease and pests are causing local extinctions of wildlife species across the UK. 120 million ash trees alone will be lost to ash dieback meaning at least 106 ash-dependent species could see dramatic declines.
Only 7% of UK woodlands are in good condition.
Nearly all UK woods exceed thresholds for nitrogen pollution which is wiping out lichens and other species leading to disruption and decline of ecosystems, causing micro-extinctions.
Only 2.5% of UK land area is ancient woodland, which is the UK's richest wildlife habitat, with ecosystems having developed over centuries. Worryingly, at least 1,225 ancient woodlands are currently under threat from destruction by newly built development.
85% of individual field trees have been lost over the last 150 years, shown in a study of the 'Eastern claylands' of Norfolk and Suffolk likely to be replicated across the UK.

Join The Fightback

Dr Moorcroft continued, "Not only do we not have enough trees, what we have is still at risk and as a result nature has declined steeply. While action on biosecurity and woodland loss is largely outside the influence of the public, we can all play a role in increasing tree numbers to help nature recover and tackle the climate crisis."

"The UK has created less than 300,000 hectares of new woodland in the last 20 years. Over the next 20 years, we need three times that amount - and 1.44 million hectares of new woodland by 2050. It's an uphill task and the pace needs to pick up, but together it can be done."

Laura Chow, Head of Charities at People's Postcode Lottery said, "The Big Climate Fightback aims to rally the nation to get behind tree planting by finding those underused areas in our communities that could accommodate more trees and make a difference in the fight against climate change and provide havens for wildlife. We're delighted our players are supporting this vital call to action."

You can do your bit and join the Big Climate Fightback. The Trust has scores of free trees that community groups and schools can apply for now. Alternatively, people can also buy native trees from its online shop.

To find out more, go to woodlandtrust.org.uk/bigclimatefightback

^Free trees are available to schools and community groups. To apply, or see terms and conditions, visit woodlandtrust.org.uk/freetrees

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