The Tree Council is calling on people to improve their neighbourhoods through joining together and tree planting during the 40th National Tree Week, Saturday 29 November to Sunday 7 December. The Tree Council’s National Tree Week is the UK’s largest celebration of trees and the start of the winter tree planting season.
The first-ever National Tree Week was held in 1975 to make Britain more tree-conscious, encourage tree planting and awareness of the importance of proper care and maintenance of trees. The Prime Minister at the time, Harold Wilson, planted a Holm oak at Chequers and Margaret Thatcher, then Leader of the Opposition, planted a Lime tree on land adjacent to Grendon St, NW6. Every Prime Minister since then has responded to the invitation to plant a tree at Chequers during National Tree Week, with the exception thus far of only the present incumbent, David Cameron.
At a time when more than 90%* of the population lives in towns and cities, National Tree Week is an important reminder that trees are our neighbours as much as other people, and a great chance for communities to improve their local area. Each year, The Tree Council’s member organisations, 8,000 volunteer Tree Wardens, schools and community groups support the initiative by planting around a million trees. Events can be found on The Tree Council website, along with tips on organising your own successful tree planting activities and more activities are advertised locally, using the downloadable, specially-designed poster.
National Tree Week aims to inspire people from all walks of life, culture and faith to come together with a common aim of improving their environment for both people and trees. Communities can take action by planting trees or tending the trees they already have or raising tree awareness through woodland walks, fairs, workshops and local events.
Upcoming events as part of the National Tree Week 2014 include:
- Fruit Tree Planting at Common Ground Communal Garden, Sheffield on 29th November
- Tree Planting at the Falkland Estate, Fife on 29th November
- Children’s Big Tree Plant in Harmony Woods, Andover on 1st December
- Tree-Huggers Ball at the Herefordshire United Club, Hereford on 6th December
- Tree Identification Walk at Stroud Green, London on 7th December
Pauline Buchanan Black, Director-General of The Tree Council said:
‘From joining activities and meeting neighbours to planting a tree of their own, we aim to inspire people to grow not only new, healthy trees but together, grow the recognition that working together makes more sense than working alone and grow a more favourable environment for both people and trees. We need to ’
Forestry Minister, Dan Rogerson added:
‘Trees are of vital social, environmental and economic importance. That’s why we are planting one million new trees in towns and cities through the Big Tree Plant, and through our Rural Development Programme, are on track to have planted at least 10 million new trees in England by the end of this Parliament. National Tree Week is a brilliant opportunity for families and communities to come together and celebrate through tree planting events.’
