Real sense of well-being that trees can help bring
When was the last time you hugged a tree? Or placed an ear against the trunk on a still, sunny day, and listened to the plumbing system within? And how often have you walked through a local arboretum, gazed skyward in awe of the towering giants in your midst, and tried to guess their height and age?
Trees are the largest plant organisms on the surface of our planet and the lifespan of some is mind-blowing.
It’s little wonder they have been linked so closely to the development of humankind over time. From furniture to fires, shelter to ships, their timber remains a valuable resource which, thanks to organised forestry, can be infinite.
However, the destruction of huge tracts of natural forest throughout the developing world poses a challenging environmental threat – the management of carbon.
Put simply, less trees, less CO2 absorption, less oxygen output. Apart from the control of carbon issue, trees stabilise the land
preventing soil erosion, and have a key role in the management of water.
Important tangible benefits come from surrounding ourselves with trees. The sense of permanence their presence bestows.
The element of clean air they bring to areas of traffic density, and the indication of seasonal changes we in the countryside take for granted, but city dwellers would otherwise miss.
A single, well-chosen tree can support a substantial eco-system of vertebrate and invertebrate life, which in turn enhances any surroundings.
So, as recent studies have shown, wherever trees go, a feeling of wellbeing follows. Wish to do your bit? If you have a garden, find out what the eventual height and spread of the tree you fancy will attain, including the root system, and act now.
Otherwise, join a local group involved in tree planting! Action to begin restoring the balance of UK trees lost in negative setbacks, began in 1973 as a response to Dutch Elm Disease, with the slogan “Plant a Tree in 73.” In National Tree Week, it’s an event that has grown in significance with continuing disease threats and the gradual demise of world-wide forested areas.
Country-wide tree-planting events involving a diversity of groups and organisations.