October 2024 Meeting
Standing Up for Trees – Ben Hamlin.
Hosted jointly by Froyle Gardening Club and Froyle Wildlife, Ben Hamlin gave us a talk entitled Standing up for Trees. This was both informative and sobering in equal measure. Ben is a lead volunteer with the Woodland Trust with specific responsibility as a tree health surveyor in our area.
The talk covered topics including ‘why we need trees’ (for our health and wellbeing, for wildlife habitats, to clean our air and to help prevent soil erosion are some) and ‘what is the problem?’ (only 13% of the UK has tree cover, only 2% of Britain is ancient woodland with only 15% of that being protected, and a half of our ancient woodland has been lost or damaged since the 1930’s).
Ben then emphasised the threats to trees and woods. It may come as little surprise that climate change is a big factor, and that humans are also responsible for the intensive agriculture and infrastructure/development which all contribute to our declining trees. As a result, ecosystems have disappeared including thousands of miles of hedgerows, and associated wildlife has declined including 55% of woodland butterflies that depend on trees for their lifecycle.
The Woodland Trust owns and cares for a thousand woods in the UK. Their mission covers the creation, protection and restoration of trees and woods. For example, they have planted 43 million trees in the last 45 years. Their current aim is to create 2000 hectares of new native woodland. To add to the 0.5 million people already supporting the Woodland Trust, visit their website www.woodlandtrust.org.uk where you can locate the nearest woods to visit, become a trust member and identify opportunities to volunteer with the trust.
Alan