Step outside your home and we guarantee you won’t be far from a tree; unless you live in the desert of course. From pine and oak, to willow and ash, we’re surrounded by a huge variety of different types of them.

And while they’re all pretty and wonderful to look at, their importance stems far beyond beauty. The value and purpose of trees is enormous; and their existence is vital for our survival. Below are just some of their benefits.

1. The environment

Trees help to combat global warming by absorbing carbon dioxide, removing and storing carbon while releasing oxygen back into the air.

They also reduce wind speeds and cool the air as they lose moisture and reflect heat upwards from their leaves. It’s estimated that trees can reduce the temperature in a city by up to 7°C.

Other environmental benefits include the fact they help to prevent flooding and soil erosion, by absorbing thousands of litres of stormwater.

2. Wildlife

From birds and insects, to bats and squirrels, trees provide a canopy and a habitat for many species of wildlife. But they don’t just act as a home for wildlife; the fruits from trees provide food for them too.

3. Our health

Trees help to improve air quality by intercepting and trapping dust and other pollutants from the air. The shade of trees also provides a useful barrier to harmful ultra-violet radiation from the sun.

But it’s not just our physical health that benefits, our mental health does too. When surrounded by trees or taking part in nature-based activities, stress and depression levels can be significantly reduced.

4. Our communities

Trees can bring people together. They can act as a landmark within a neighbourhood and encourage pride amongst people within that community.

Trees and woodland areas can be used to bring people together for educational purposes. They also allow for activities such as walking or birdwatching. In addition, they give children somewhere to play in and feel a sense of adventure.

Planting trees for our future

So, as you can see, humans, animals and the environment depend upon trees for survival. Therefore, as deforestation continues, we must put back what we’re taking away.

By planting more trees, it will contribute to global reforestation efforts, restoring lost forests, repairing damaged ecosystems and mitigating climate changes.

World Land Trust – Plant a Tree Appeal

As part of our #HostEnvironmentalPledge campaign, one of our nominated charities is World Land Trust (WLT); who run the Plant a Tree appeal.

World Land Trust works with in-country partners to protect crucial areas of land, selecting sites that are rich in biodiversity and that support long-term conservation goals to connect and enlarge protected areas. They support their partners throughout the reforestation process, from the planting and care of young trees, through to their establishment as new forest habitat.

So, how does it work?

Plant a Tree has already planted over 2 million trees across 5,930 acres. Because WLT’s partners are involved in every step of the reforestation process, each £5 donation covers the seed collection, growing, planting and protection, guaranteeing a new forest to help biodiversity and tackle climate change.

Find out more about World Land Trust and how you can help restore the lost forests via their website worldlandtrust.org.

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Today is World Environment Day. The day is celebrated every year on 5th June and is the most renowned day for environmental action. The day is all about engaging governments, businesses, celebrities and citizens to focus their efforts on a pressing environmental issue. The foods we eat, the air we breathe, the water we drink and the climate that makes our planet habitable all come from nature. For this reason, this World Environment Day, it’s #TimeForNature.