Coporate Membership
Anna French Associates is celebrating becoming a corporate member of the Woodland Trust! Anna has supported the Trust’s activities for many years and we recently signed up to officially become a corporate member. This is a natural progression for us as a practice to recognise our commitment to improving the environment in the UK.
About the Woodland Trust
The Woodland Trust helps to protect, create, restore and maintain woodlands around the UK. Only 2.5% of the UK is covered by ancient woodland, it is a rare habitat that is crucial to protect to retain some of the plants that only thrive there as well as the veteran trees that our part of our heritage. The Woodland Trust is mapping veteran trees to aid with their protection and fighting to save ancient woodland which is under threat from development.
Restoring ancient woodlands is an ongoing process, it can involve removing plantation trees or invasive vegetation to ensure species are not lost. Then protecting areas from browsing deer to enable natural regeneration to occur, and a gradual felling and replacing of plantation trees to bring in more diversity of tree species which allows for a wider range of other plants and animals to thrive. Finally, ensuring the best habitat by leaving deadwood and standing dead trees which provide niches for fungi and homes for birds and bats.
They also plant trees, 68.5 million since 1972! Trees are vitally important for human health and wellbeing as well as having benefits for wildlife. They reduce surrounding temperatures and protect from extreme heat, being around trees is proven to be beneficial for our mental health, they remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere which plays a part in maintaining the balance of our climate, they can even reduce the risk of our communities flooding by taking up excess water before at arrives at our homes. It’s not a one-size fits all solution for climate change, but preserving trees and encouraging the growth of more is certainly a positive step.
Appendix: Key References
Woodland Trust
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/
