Why Trees?

Why Trees?

As well as brightening our morning or journey to work, providing a nearby location for walks and a long- term habitat for wildlife, trees provide a wide range of other services to local people, they: 

  • Cut energy use: this can be 10 per cent lower in buildings sheltered by trees;
  • Reduce flash flooding: cutting disturbance and damage after heavy rain;  
  • Are carbon neutral: if local trees are used for wood fuel or construction;
  • Speed patient recovery: less time is spent in wards with views of trees;
  • Reduce asthma: as they filter out particulate pollution;
  • Contribute to a high quality of life: people pay 3 to 7 per cent more to live on tree lined streets;
  • Support the local economy: people prefer, stay longer and more frequently visit, shopping areas with trees;
  • Support inward investment: quality of life is a factor in the relocation of 57% of business executives;
  • Contribute to safer communities: flats associated with trees have fewer crimes and people feel safer; and
  • Provide a generation busting legacy: local tree planting brings communities together and can last hundreds of years in to the future.   

Why Now?

There is a very strong social and economic case for needing many more trees in the West, but we need to act now because of climate change. The global climate is likely to be 4 o C warmer by 2100 and locally, this is already meaning hotter summers, wetter winters and much more intensive rainfall. So we need real effort now to increase trees to help climate proof the area for future generations and also to maintain our great area’s strong quality of life. 

How Can I Help?

You can now support the Forest of Avon Trust in championing and planting trees across the West. You can also review your lifestyle and reduce your carbon footprint.

Local Woods

The West of England has many wonderful woodlands, some of which were created by local action by the Forest of Avon Partnership. Find out where you can go, have a great time and hopefully be be inspired, by following the links on the left.