Today’s Advent Calendar window opens to Save Our Trees, because despite the undeniable fact that trees are good for the environment, and that felling trees is one of the primary reasons as to why global warming is showing no signs of slowing down, hundreds of mature trees are felled in North Northamptonshire every year for developments, and despite many being planted over the last year or so, for every mature tree lost, hundreds of new ones are needed to offset their environmental benefit.
This window has been inspired by the continued efforts of Wellingborough Walks Action Group (WWAG) who had an information and fundraising stall in The Swansgate Shopping Centre today. Huge support for their Save Our Trees campaign was yet again shown, with the stall making nearly £750 from sales of their new mugs, their 2025 calendar and at their tombola!
The campaign continues despite winning the Judicial Review at The High Court, meaning that North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) are legally bound to not chop down the lime trees on The Walks if it can be avoided. WWAG have had plans drawn up that would Save Our Trees, so no trees should be felled; but NNC have repeatedly rescheduled planning and have as yet failed to comment of alternative proposals. WWAG’s solicitors are in correspondence with the council but of course this costs and is why WWAG are fundraising.
So why care about trees? Here are some of the benefits of mature trees outside of woodland: (source Woodland Trust)
- Absorbing air pollution – particulate matter (PM), NOx, SO2 , ozone, carbon monoxide, ammonia
- Removing dust and odour
- Producing oxygen
- Sequestering and storing carbon – directly and in soil
- Providing shade
- Reducing summer air temperatures
- Providing shelter from wind
- Reducing energy use
- Reducing glare
- Reducing rate and volume of storm water runoff
- Reducing flood risk
- Recharging ground water
- Enhancing water quality
- Reducing soil erosion
- Attenuating noise
- Screening unattractive or noisy places
- Supporting pollinators and other insects
- Providing habitat for birds and mammals
- Providing and enhancing landscape character
- Contributing to sense of place and identity
- Part of cultural heritage
- Enhancing aesthetics
- Benefiting physical health – reducing blood pressure, stress, asthma
- Speeding recovery from surgery and illness
- Enhancing attention and cognitive function
- Improving mental health and wellbeing
- Improving pregnancy and birth outcomes
- Reducing mortality rates – especially related to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases
- Encouraging physical activity
- Enhancing community cohesion
- Reducing aggression, violence and crime rates
- Increasing security
- Enhancing driver and pedestrian safety
- Reducing road traffic speeds
- Enhancing privacy
- Bringing people closer to nature
- Providing setting for outdoor learning
- Improving educational outcomes through improvements in concentration and performance and reduced time off for illness
- Enhancing quality of life
- Providing spiritual value and meaning
Trees are very effective at mitigating the effects of air pollution, primarily by intercepting airborne particulate matter, but also by absorbing ozone, SO2, NOX and ammonia. Trees, especially large ones, are able to store significant amounts of carbon. The two factors that most influence carbon uptake are growth rates and wood density, with considerable inter-specific variation. Total life cycle carbon sequestration in urban and roadside locations may be maximised by selecting tree species with high wood densities rather than growth rates.
Trees have a moderating effect on local climate, although tree location in relation to buildings and roads can have a major influence on impact. Densely planted tree belts can also reduce noise level. TOWs can also provide hydrological benefits in the form of avoided runoff and flood alleviation, and water quality enhancement.
In terms of cultural services, scattered trees and other types of trees outside of woodlands are a fundamental part of the cultural landscape of the UK, providing character and local distinctiveness. Within urban areas, people show a generally favourable attitude towards street trees, with the most highly rated benefit being visual attractiveness.
There is strong and growing evidence linking exposure to trees with enhancements in both physical and mental health and wellbeing. Benefits include – speeding recovery from surgery and illness, enhancing attention and cognitive function, improving mental health and wellbeing, improving pregnancy and birth outcomes, reducing mortality rates (especially related to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases), and encouraging physical activity.
In addition, evidence suggests that in urban areas the presence of trees can be used to deter crime and anti-social behaviour. Roadside trees also have an impact on road safety, reducing the frequency and severity of crashes, reducing traffic speed and enhancing pedestrian safety.
Taking planting and maintenance costs into account, urban trees deliver considerably more benefits than they cost. It is likely that overall annual costs including both planting and maintenance will be around £25 per tree in the UK, with £81 of benefits delivered. This gives a net benefit of approximately £56 per tree per year and a cost benefit ratio of 1:3.2.
As the world becomes more environmentally aware, the knowledge and awareness of practices such as tree felling has increased. Felling trees has become more and more unacceptable and of an important issue to people, particularly in Wellingborough. The Save Our Trees campaign has had a national impact in terms of planning to ensure trees are saved with their High Court victory; but the trees on The Walks are not saved yet, so please do support the campaigners at Wellingborough Walks Action Group. 2025 Calendars, new mugs and clothing is available, find out more on social media and at saveourtrees.co.uk