The Tree Council was founded in 1973, with government backing, as the umbrella body for UK organisations involved in tree planting, care and conservation.
The charity works with its national network of volunteer Tree Wardens and member organisations to engage people in biodiversity and environmental issues:
- for more trees, of the right kind in the right places
- for better care for all trees, of all ages and
- to inspire effective action for trees
Its goal is to make “Trees matter to everyone”.
The Tree Council has four annual campaigns:
Walk in the Woods 1st to 31st May
Walk in the Woods is The Tree Council’s festival to encourage everyone to enjoy trees and woods, with walks, talks and other events take place across the UK. This is a great opportunity to get new people interested in trees, especially in their local area. A particular aim of Walk in the Woods is to attract people who rarely, if ever, visit woods.
Seed Gathering Season 23rd September to 23rd October
Seed Gathering Season is the autumn campaign to inspire everyone to gather seeds, fruits and nuts and grow the trees of the future.
Growing seeds from healthy UK trees that are adapted to the local circumstances is probably one of the best ways of taking out insurance that there will be strong saplings to plant where the gaps appear due to imported pests and diseases.
Collecting seeds and growing trees is also a great way to involve children and start growing the next generation of tree enthusiasts.
National Tree Week The last week in November (includes both weekends)
National Tree Week marks the start of the winter tree planting season (November to March each year). National Tree Week was established in March 1975 in response to the national replanting required after the outbreak of Dutch Elm disease.
National Tree Week starts on the last Saturday of November each year with Tree Charter day, marked by communities, schools, organisations and individuals with activities and events that celebrate the value and importance of trees and woods to people.
Tree Care Campaign 21st March to 21st September
The national Tree Care Campaign highlights the need for better care for all trees in order to ensure their survival and increase the number reaching maturity. The campaign was launched in 1999 to urge anyone who has planted trees in the past five years to revisit them and carry out a few simple tree care tasks, such as clearing weeds, mulching and checking ties. These actions can save young trees from dying and allow them to develop into mature trees that enhance our urban and rural landscape, provide shade and support biodiversity.
The Tree Charter
The Charter for Woods, Trees and People celebrates the 800th anniversary of The Charter of the Forest, which complemented clauses in the Magna Carta and re-established the rights of the people to use forests for grazing livestock, collecting firewood and food.
The Tree Charter states 10 achievable principles with practical roles and responsibilities that are relevant to everyone in the UK and sets out how trees and people can benefit the other.
The Charter was launched on 6th November 2017 at Lincoln Castle, home to one of the last two remaining copies of The Charter of the Forest.
https://www.treecouncil.org.uk
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