One year on from the launch of the Tree Charter, let's celebrate the power of trees.
Humans have always had a beguiling and intimate relationship with trees. These grand old beasts of the forest have captured our imagination in ways that other plant life does not.
The rustle of their leaves in a light breeze and the muffled silence of a dense forest reminds us of the magic of the natural world that they embody. Their cycle of shedding leaves, spring flowering and summer greening define much of our experience of the changing seasons. Their stoicism, longevity and strength have meant that they have always been viewed as a source of wisdom.
The character of many of our most iconic English landscapes are defined by the presence or absence of trees; think the dense woodlands of the New Forest, the windswept moors of the Peak District, or the wooded denes of the Surrey Hills. And as the mental health benefits of experiencing nature become ever more apparent to us, it’s clear that trees deserve to be celebrated.
Photo: Jakob Owens/Unsplash
A year on from the launch of the Charter for Trees, Woods and People, that’s exactly what we’re doing. The charter’s ambition is to place trees at the centre of national decision-making and back at the heart of our lives and communities. As an organisation that wants a better future for our landscapes and environment, we are proud to be part of the national movement to celebrate, protect and improve our trees and woodland.
Many of you will remember the public outcry when the Government wanted to sell off our public forests or felt the outrage that compelled so many to take action to prevent the felling of trees in Sheffield. That is why we’re supportive of the charter campaign. We know that many trees are lost to development, such as new housing or road expansion, and we cannot afford to be complacent.
Under the Principle ‘celebrate the power of trees to inspire’, the Tree Charter calls for a national day each year when the country should unite in celebrating, protecting and enhancing the role of trees and woods in our lives – 24 November this year. There are Tree Charter events happening across the country, and we urge you to participate and celebrate the power of our nation’s trees, both today and throughout National Tree Week, the Tree Council’s annual celebration of trees.
The Ankerwycke Yew near Wraysbury in Berkshire is said to have witnessed the signing of both the Magna Carta and the original Charter of the Forest in the 13th century. The Tree Charter will help us ensure that many more trees live to such a ripe old age. As the years pass and the seasons change, our trees and woodlands are a constant presence – connecting us to the past, but making our lives better now and into the future.
If you’d like to get involved visit www.treecharter.uk
