What Is National Tree Week?

Every year, tree-lovers from across the country come together to celebrate the beginning of the tree planting season. As a company that uses natural resources, we know how important trees are to the environment and how vital they are to our health and well-being. We are passionate about our tree planting project, and are so proud of the impact this is making. But what is national tree week? And what can we do to get involved?

In A Nutshell

Every year, The Tree Council center their National Tree Week campaign around three key principals; planting, donation, and celebration.

The winter planting season is upon us so it’s the perfect time to get outdoors and get planting. Trees and hedgerows are some of the most powerful tools we have in the fight against climate change. And the good news is that we can all make a difference by planting a tree!

If planting your own tree isn't an option, there are lots of other ways you can contribute. For example, The Tree Council have teamed up with The Big Give to raise £20,000 for their Orchards for Schools programme. Alternatively, you can donate a tree to the International Tree Foundation's tree planting scheme; by 2024, their goal is to plant 20 million trees in Kenya to combat deforestation and support local people. If you would like more information on our tree planting project, take a look here.

Trees are heroes of nature. They sustain wildlife, create oxygen, purify our air and are absolutely beautiful. National Tree Week is the perfect time to celebrate our trees and remind everyone about all they do.

Health & Well-Being

It’s getting chilly out there, but despite the cold, spending time around trees is still hugely beneficial for your health.

Trees filter the air around you, meaning you can breathe better quality air. They are so good at this that one tree can remove 1.7 kilos of dust and toxins from the air each year.

Studies have also shown that simply standing among trees for a few minutes will reduce your blood pressure, heart rate and stress levels.

In warmer weather, the canopy also acts as a barrier to solar radiation, protecting you from harmful rays and providing cooling shade.

Supporting Wildlife

Trees don't just support themselves, they are also host to complex micro-habitats where numerous different species live in harmony.

When they are still young, trees provide habitat for various species of insects, birds, fungi and lichen. When they reach maturity, hollows in the trunk of a tree also provide shelter for bats, owls and woodpeckers.

It’s mind-boggling to think, but studies of mature oaks have found up to 500 species living on a single tree.

Protecting the Environment

In times of increased rainfall, trees absorb excess flood water and prevent flooding. Their root structure also helps to bind river banks together, reducing the risk of soil erosion.

Trees also take in CO2 just like humans, but unlike us they retain the carbon; rather than contributing to greenhouse gases, this carbon is used by the tree to create molecular structures. The oxygen is then released, enriching the air. This entire process significantly slows the rate of global warming, and makes our air cleaner to breathe.

Boosting the Economy

It is in our nature to be attracted to trees, so it’s not surprising that people generally want to work, live and invest in green spaces.

This innate tendency means that trees not only benefit our well-being, they also benefit the economy. Any HR department will tell you that a happy workforce is a productive workforce. Given the positive impact trees have on our mindset, it therefore follows that greenery also has a positive impact on business efficiency.

Trees are also beneficial for your personal finance; in numerous studies, it has been shown that house prices are 5-18% higher on average for properties near mature trees.

Given the impact trees have, we think they are a pretty sound investment - for both your pocket and the planet.

Our Tree Planting Project

As a company that uses the resources of the earth, our promise is to continually strive for environmental sustainability. We ensure our suppliers source our solid Scandinavian pine from FSC and PEFC approved forests, and plant twice as many trees as we use in our bid to become carbon neutral.

We also work in partnership with the International Tree Foundation (ITF), who promote community-led forestry projects in the UK and Africa. They currently support reforestation initiatives in seven African countries as well as in the UK. By 2024, their goal is to plant 20 million trees in Kenya.

Through our partnership with the ITF, we are planting trees to contribute to this ambitious target. These samplings will also help combat climate change, build livelihoods, and promote animal and plant diversity.

You can find out more and plant your own tree here and find out why we're the UK's leading eco bed makers.