National Trust tree planting scheme
Despite the coronavirus pandemic, the National Trust has planted 60,000 young sapling trees across the UK over the last few months in bid to protect landscapes, attract more wildlife, and create new homes for nature.
Kickstarting the plans to plant 20 million trees across England, Wales and Northern Ireland by 2030, the idea is to plants trees in the right places – ensuring that any release of carbon through soil disturbance is minimal.
The planting project with help with flood management. The trees should be able to slow the flow of water when there is flooding, benefiting the surrounding landscapes and communities.
The planting project with help with flood management as the trees should be able to slow the flow of water when there is flooding. This benefitting and protecting the surrounding landscapes and communities.
The conservation charity has received nearly £500,000 in public donations towards the ‘Plant a Tree’ campaign and will now be able to accelerate in the rate of planting. Already, the conservation has identified sites for a further 1.5 million trees to be planted over the next couple of years.
John Deakin, head of woodland and trees at the National Trust said: “The first two years of our 10 year plan was always going to be about doing the research and scoping out the right places to plant and establish trees – to try to ensure we maximise in balance the benefit to nature, regenerate landscapes or creating new woodlands near urban areas.
“We need to ensure important historic views and parklands are maintained appropriately. We’re considering where trees could provide the biggest benefit for nature, climate and people – for instance by expanding and linking existing woodland, or by identifying locations near towns and cities where many people will be able to enjoy them.”
Some of the tree species that are being planted by the charity range from oak, beech, lime, field maple, rowan, wild cherry, wild service, wild pear, crab apple, hazel, holly and hawthorn. They have been specifically selected in order to help deliver maximum benefit for landscapes and nature.
