1,000 trees for National Tree Week

December 17, 2019

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now.

The saying has never been more pertinent, as the UK strives to meet targets for cutting carbon emissions. The Committee on Climate Change (CCC) recommend more than doubling current levels of tree planting, meaning at least 30,000 hectares of new woodland will be needed every year until 2050.

Together for Trees

During National Tree week 100 volunteers joined us to plant trees to support Together for Trees, our campaign to plant 100,000 new trees in and around the Yorkshire Dales.

Businesses and community groups were among those who volunteered to plant additional trees in existing woodlands to mitigate the impact of ash dieback disease, which is devastating ash trees across the UK. This will make the woodlands more resilient and ensure good tree cover in the long term.

Winter woodlands

On top of this 22 new native broadleaf woodlands will be planted this winter as part of the campaign. YDMT’s Woodland Officer Carol Douglas said:

Together for Trees is not just about planting trees, it is about bringing people together to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits of creating new woodland. This winter more than 19 hectares of woodland will be created – that’s the equivalent of more than 23 football pitches.

Plastic-free trees

YDMT is continuing work started at our plastic conference this Autumn to reduce the use of plastics in woodland creation. This includes exploring recyclable or biodegradable alternatives to plastic tree guards, as well as looking at alternative tree planting and woodland management systems. We’re also moving towards a more collective effort to remove redundant tree tubes in the environment – including community ‘wombling’ events to collect and recycle used tubes.

Find out more about Together for Trees or take part in our upcoming tree planting day in February next year…dates for our wombling events will also be coming soon!