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Trees are vital to the survival of our planet. As the biggest plants on earth, they store harmful carbon dioxide, provide oxygen, stabilise soil and provide a home for the world’s wildlife. While trees are essential to sustain life, they also provide a link between the past and present, as a result of their longevity. They are an environmental essential, with all trees requiring sustainable management to ensure their future survival. Currently, forests cover 12% of land in the UK. Compared with some of our European neighbours, this is low. In France, forests cover around 29% of the land, whereas in Germany, they cover 32%. The UK is lagging behind our European counterparts and must improve, not least because our native woods and trees are a good way of tackling climate change. The Woodland Trust is currently expanding Britain's tree cover to a target of 19% to help combat climate change. It is also actively protecting and restoring the nation's existing woods. The trust aims to plant 50 million native trees across the UK over the next five years - a huge but vital undertaking.   Health benefits of trees The trees' canopies provide a physical filter to trap dust and absorb pollutants from the air. One tree can remove up to 1.7 kilos of pollutants each year. Trees also reduce noises and provide shade from solar radiation. In addition, more than 20 species of British trees and shrubs are said to have medicinal properties. For example, birch bark oil is known for having antiseptic properties. Scientific research shows that when people are surrounded by trees and green space, our heart rate slows down, our blood pressure drops and our stress levels are also reduced.   Environmental benefits Trees absorb carbon dioxide as they grow, storing it in their wood. This helps to slow down the rate of global warming. They also reduce wind speeds and cool the air, as they reflect heat upwards from their leaves. Scientists estimate that urban trees can help reduce the heat in a city by up to 7°C. For people continually surrounded by concrete buildings, or working in offices where electronic equipment generates heat, this is very welcome. Larger trees also cool people and buildings by providing shade. In hot weather, sitting in tree shade can reduce the temperature by between 7°C and 15°C. Trees can also help prevent flooding and soil erosion by absorbing storm water.   Trees and wildlife Trees have their own micro-habitat, providing food and somewhere to live for a multitude of different wildlife: communities of birds, insects, mammals, fungi and lichen rely on them to survive. Ancient trees in particular provide hollows in their trunks that are ideal for tawny owls, bats, woodboring beetles and woodpeckers. One mature oak tree can support hundreds of different wildlife species when you include plant life too. Richmond Park, in London, which is full of mature oak trees, is considered so valuable to nature and the environment that it has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a National Nature Reserve.   Community meeting place Trees encourage local pride when planted in urban areas, while they introduce green spaces to built-up areas, where people can sit and relax during their hectic day. Urban woodlands are used as educational resources and bring people together to enjoy activities such as walking or bird-watching. Children have always enjoyed playing in and around trees. In this modern age of video gaming consoles and mobile phones, kids need to discover their sense of adventure with outdoor play.   Happier workforce Research shows companies have a happier, healthier workforce when there are parks and trees in the surrounding area. As far back as the mid-20th century, firms realised the benefits of buying premises with landscaped grounds to surround the workforce with nature. In 1950, the pharmaceutical firm ICI bought a building amid 350 acres of country parkland at Alderley Park in Cheshire, providing a beautiful place to work. With greenery surrounding the research buildings, the employees could feel close to nature all the time.   Trees in the future According to analysts, in the not-so-distant future, as the population grows, and more people are living in cities; trees and parks in urban areas will become even more crucial than they are today. We must respect trees, protect them for future generations and support initiatives to plant more trees, such as the scheme spearheaded by the Woodland Trust to increase the UK's woodlands. The National Trust is running its Plant a Tree campaign, encouraging people to make a donation to plant a tree. It suggests buying a tree as an eco-friendly gift for a loved one this Christmas. The Trust aims to plant 20 million in the UK by 2030.   Planting trees in the garden You can simply plant a tree in your own garden to make a difference. Scientists say planting billions more trees across the planet is one of the cheapest and best ways of taking CO2 out of the atmosphere and tackling climate change. While you may feel planting one tree in your own garden won't make much difference, you would be wrong. If every person got onboard, think what a huge benefit this would have for the earth. You would be helping to clean the air, offset carbon, filter water, create shade and give birds a place to build a nest.