Last weekend, I joined the Woodland Trust‘s Big Climate Fightback, to make my own small scale difference in the fight to stop climate change and secure the future of the planet.
The Woodland Trust launched the Big Climate Fightback in September to give people a simple way to make a difference and — having concluded the first UK lockdown with the devastating (albeit unsurprising) news that Chris Packham’s attempts to halt work on HS2 (which would subsequently decimate ancient woodland that the Woodland Trust had campaigned hard to protect) — I wanted to begin this second lockdown with an investment in nature.
It’s important to remember that the threat we all face from climate change hasn’t gone away and trees are still our strongest warriors in the battle.
The Woodland Trust kindly sent me these crab apple saplings for the lockdown garden I created with the help of my neighbours back in the spring — and planting them was my way of helping The Woodland Trust on their mission to plant 50 million trees in the next five year.
Everyone can join the climate change army and become a part of the Big Climate Fightback; by planting a tree at home, using your voice to speak up for trees or supporting the Woodland Trust with a donation.
The UK desperately needs more trees in order to hit the government’s 2050 Net Zero target.
I recently shared a blog post contrasting the area of forest the government pledges to plant with trees as part of its “Nature for Climate” fund with the area of forest that will need to be cut down over the same period to supply the UK’s massive demand for wood to burn as fuel for electricity.
The results showed clear hypocrisy when it comes to the Nature for Climate fund; which is why I believe we need to support non-governmental organisations, like the Woodland Trust, in their own efforts to plant trees.
I planted these two saplings as with the idea in mind that trees are both the lungs of the planet and food providers to human and non-human animals.
The crab apple is well-loved by foragers; and also as a food source to our garden wildlife — from its early nectar appealing to pollinators, to its fallen fruits being favoured by foxes, badgers and small mammals alike — the native crab apple is something our family can enjoy in many ways over time.
Planted during a global pandemic, and at a time when there is a climate crisis — these saplings serve as a symbol of our need to nurture the planet if we are to reap its rewards. I hope to watch these trees grow as we watch our children grow; and to see the world healing as this happens.
Find out how you can get involved and help the Woodland Trust plant 50 million trees over the next 5 years! http://www.woodlandtru.st/bRAbY
Like this post? Check out my National Tree Week 2020 post.
Learn more about trees
- Read about the launch of The Woodland Trust’s Big Climate Fightback
- Help The Woodland Trust save ancient woodlands
- The hidden truth behind the UK’s tree-planting hypocrisy
- HS2 and the UK’s post-lockdown challenges
- Discover The Health Benefits of Going Outdoors
- Learn more about climate change
- Take A guided tour of Saint Lucia’s Babonneau rainforest
