Future

The Benefits of Trees

Nothing guzzles carbon like a tree; woodland in the UK captures 20 million tonnes of CO2 annually and a study by Defra's science department, Forest Research, says soils store most carbon - a massive 72% of a wood's total. Native woods have other benefits: they enrich the soil, shelter livestock, reduce floodwater runoff, increase biodiversity, produce fruit crops and improve people's mental health all while storing carbon.

Forest for Cornwall is not a single area of a new forest but a Cornwall Council project to significantly increase the canopy cover throughout Cornwall while strengthening the protection of our existing trees, woodlands and hedges.  Six ways you can get involved in the Forest for Cornwall:

1. Plant a tree in your garden
   
2. Apply for a Grow Nature Seed Fund grant
   
3. Become a tree warden
   
4. Share #forestforcornwall on social media
   
5. Apply for trees from the Woodland Trust
   
6. Tell us what you are doing
   

What you can do

• Plant a tree in your garden or ask a friend or neighbour to plant a tree on your behalf. Three native trees to consider are Crab Apple, Hawthorn and Silver Birch, all good for small gardens.
  
• This year is a 'Mast' year when trees and shrubs produce a bumper crop of their fruit or nuts, so now is the time to collect seeds from our local trees and see if you can grow your own saplings.
  
• Become a member of the Woodland Trust and fund a tree.
  

Sources of Information

Forest for Cornwall

Woodland Trust

Woodland Trust - growing a tree from seed

© Landulph Climate Group, January 2021, All rights reserved

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