Planting trees has many benefits
Planting trees has many benefits The trees that make our world a more beautiful, richer, and greener place are fascinating and amazing organisms. The planting of trees in an area has a wide range of benefits for the environment and the local community. Our community tree planting project, Tiny Forest, offers all these benefits to the many communities plant trees in. Donate now to support www.Shenrons.org project! These are five benefits of planting trees and why tree planting projects are so important. They absorb carbon dioxide and provide oxygen. Probably the most obvious thing we think of when we think about trees is their ability to provide us with oxygen. Trees, like most plants, absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen as a result of photosynthesis. A tree produces about 118 kilograms of oxygen annually. The absorption of carbon dioxide is a key component of this process, helping us to combat climate change. As much as 22 kilograms of carbon can be absorbed by a single tree every year, which could be stored in the wood and roots for decades or even centuries. Tiny Forests provide climate benefits as well as wildlife habitats Trees and woods are like cities for wildlife, providing food and shelter for thousands of species. For example, oak trees can support up to 2,300 species with over 300 of these entirely dependent on oaks for their survival. Many birds and several small mammals, such as dormice and bats, use trees for nesting and shelter. Countless invertebrate species, from snails to butterflies to spiders, rely on woodland habitats. Bees will visit flowering trees for nectar and pollen, such as hawthorn and elder. The brimstone butterfly lays its eggs on alder leaves. All these animals, using the tree in a variety of ways, provide food for other species further up the food chain. Tiny Forests are biodiversity hotspots, capable of attracting over 500 animal and plant species within their first 3 years. That’s quite an achievement for a young woodland the size of a tennis court! Since 1970, 41% of UK species have seen their populations decrease. Our wildlife needs a thriving network of habitats to help them recover. Trees boost our health and wellbeing Most of us will agree that a walk through the woods helps us feel better. There’s science behind this feeling! Trees emit phytoncides to ward of potential threats. When we breathe these in, it reduces our cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and boosts our immune system. A 2017 study discovered that people living close to trees had better, what scientists called, ‘amygdala integrity’. This meant they had a brain structure that was better at handling stressors. Other research has found that patients with views of trees heal faster and with fewer complications. When able to access nature, children with ADHD show reduced symptoms. Exposure to trees has also been proven to reduce mental fatigue and help our concentration. Tiny Forests help local people reconnect with nature and access these health restoring benefits. Improve our urban spaces Trees simply make things better. Aesthetically, urban areas with trees are much more pleasing to look at and spend time in. But they also transform our cities in other ways by changing the environment around them. Trees improve air quality. They take up pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, ozone, ammonia, and sulphur dioxide. Trees can also filter the air by trapping particulates in their leaves and absorbing odours. Our large leafy friends also provide a cooling effect by reflecting sunlight and providing shade. This could be key to mitigating increasing temperatures and the ‘heat island’ effect in our cities. Woods also help to prevent flooding. They slow down the fall of rain by intercepting raindrops, allowing some rainwater to evaporate before it can reach the ground. Trees soak up water and their roots enable it to penetrate the soil faster. This results in less surface run-off and more water storage. These stalwart sentinels also stabilise the soils where they are planted, preventing soil erosion and improving fertility. Trees can even help to reduce crime! Studies have shown that bare neighbourhoods have higher levels of violence than greener ones. Trees and green spaces also reduce the amount of fear people feel. Tiny Forests at the heart of our cities and urban spaces helping to create thriving and climate-resilient urban areas. Tree planting is fun! Tree planting is a fun, social and rewarding activity. Community tree planting events happen all over the UK during autumn and winter. Volunteering on a tree planting day provides everyone the opportunity to learn how to plant a tree and appreciate the important role they play. It’s also a great way to get active, boost your mental health, and meet people in your community. As you can see, trees are superheroes and planting more of them (in the right places) can only be a good thing! Tree planting projects have an important part to play as we continue to face increasing challenges from climate change and wildlife decline. Donate today to help us fundraise for our goal to plant trees
