Following National Tree Week, as part of our #treeinspired campaign, we thought it would be good to have a look at how important trees really are, and what their significance is to so many people.
For health, for wildlife and the climate
Forests have proven positive effects on our mental health, act as increasingly important carbon sinks, provide flood protection and host a huge range of species, from underground fungal networks to apex predators.
To find out more about the positive effects of trees, you can read about Shinrin Yoku - The Act of Forest Bathing, and whether trees have the power to heal more than just our minds?
You can also discover more about why trees are so important for wildlife in the garden, and we'll also be diving into whether or not trees can help the UK become carbon neutral by 2050.
For all these reasons and the fact that trees are disappearing across the globe at an alarming rate, tree planting initiatives have never been more vital.
That's why with this campaign, Candide is supporting the Community Forest Trust, an organisation who champion and support community forests throughout England.
We're hoping to raise £10,000 for them, which will enable the planting of 1,000 trees in woodland across England to spread the benefits that trees bring throughout the country.
To donate, visit their marketplace page, where you can also get a number of virtual Christmas card designs to reduce your carbon footprint.
Jonathan Burton from the Tree Health Centre at The Yorkshire Arboretum has faith in the future of tree planting in the UK. 'We will secure benefits for our communities and our future generations through the considered planting of resilient, diverse and well-managed treescapes. Healthy trees for a healthy future.'
In addition to this, Simon Toomer, National Specialist for Plant Conservation at the National Trust (previously Curator and Director at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum), recognises the importance of tree planting today to improve biodiversity and absorb carbon.
'It’s never been more important to increase the number of trees and woodlands to help meet the twin challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss. Establishing diverse treescapes in places where people live has the additional benefit of improving urban environments and enhancing everyday quality of life.'
What do trees mean to you?
Besides all the aforementioned benefits trees bring, trees have personal connections to many of us, shaping who we are. We reached out to some influential people from throughout the gardening and forestry world, to find out what trees meant to them.
To the garden designer, TV presenter, author and journalist Ann-Marie Powell, 'trees reach into the past and the future, connect land and sky, invite wildlife to co-exist amongst their leafy bows and blooms, and filter our air. No matter how small, there is always space for a tree in a garden.'
If she had to pick just one? 'Amelanchier lamarckii every time - leaf, bark, berry and bloom, it has it all, enhancing my day to day no matter the time of year.'
To garden author Matthew Appleby, trees have been inspirational since he was a boy. 'A book that inspired me as a young child was Lord of The Forest by 'BB', a great story about the 600-year lifespan of a single oak tree. The book taught me a lot about British history and people's relationships with nature.
Matthew isn't the only person that has fond childhood memories of trees. Blogger Alison Levey shared her memory with Candide.
'When I was growing up at my parents' house, there was a silver birch tree not far from my bedroom window. I loved watching this tree change through the seasons and always considered it 'my tree'. It took me a long time to realise that the little flies that used to flutter in through the window and lie dead on the sill were not flies at all, but the seeds of the birch tree. Whenever I see the seeds now, I smile and remember that tree and how I used to misunderstand what they were.'
We’d love to hear your favourite #treeinspired memory! Share to Instagram, using the hashtag and tagging candidegardening to be in with a chance of winning £250 Candide Marketplace credit. Or purchase an e-card donation from Community Forest Trust. Or do both for two entries! Find more details on our Instagram page. Giveaway runs until December 8th.