Working together for a tree-filled future – join in this special National Tree Week 

Author: Jess Allan, Science & Research Projects Manager at The Tree Council 

National Tree Week 2023 (25 Nov-3 Dec) marks fifty years since the ‘Plant a Tree in ‘73’ campaign, from which the annual week-long celebration of trees (and The Tree Council!) was born. The week is always a brilliant opportunity to come together and truly appreciate the trees around us that give us joy! The theme this year is ‘Grow a Tree in ‘23’, reflecting the continued love and care that trees need after planting – a crucial message for all of us. 

Local action makes the difference

Trees and woodlands are of global importance, vital to the fight against climate change. They also provide a wealth of benefits to our daily lives, keeping our cities cooler, improving resilience to flooding, and making us feel better! The need for more trees has been recognised through national targets and policy, and additional funding for planting (for example, the Woodland Creation Accelerator Fund, or Urban Tree Challenge Fund). 

National policy is of course hugely important for setting a direction, but ultimately it is local action and commitment that makes the difference. Along with our partners, The Tree Council is passionate about supporting efforts across the country to look after trees, hedgerows, and woodlands as best we can, and help people connect with them. One way we do this is through developing practical guidance and resources that bring the best research and evidence to people who can use it.

Earlier this year we published the Trees and Woodland Strategy toolkit, encouraging local authorities to develop local strategies for how they, and other key stakeholders, will protect and enhance their treescape. Key to this is collaboration – bringing a variety of stakeholders and perspectives together to create shared aims and objectives. The toolkit was developed through extensive engagement with local authorities and the tree sector more broadly. It was a privilege to hear about amazing achievements, as well as having open and honest conversations about the challenges faced at the local level. This process helped us produce a toolkit that meets the audience’s needs – similar to our work on Ash Dieback, and Oak Processionary Moth.

Within the TAWS toolkit, you can find ten case studies from across England, from Wirral to Fareham, and Norfolk to the Forest of Avon. They show how transformative and important it is to have a strategy in place to make sure the treescape is fit for the future, and the need to involve local communities in the process. We hope to add more case studies in the future, sharing useful and inspirational stories that we can all learn from.

Time to celebrate

This National Tree Week, I’ll be taking a moment to admire and appreciate the trees on my street, but will also be thinking grateful thoughts about all the people who invest time and effort in caring for them! Who knows what the next fifty years have in store, but one thing is for sure – if we look after our trees, they’ll look after us! 

Visit our website to see how you can get involved, perhaps you can organise or join a local tree planting event, or host your very own Tree Party!

The following blog post is for informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or legal advice. The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the National Association of Local Councils. Any links to external sources included in this blog post are provided for convenience and do not constitute endorsement or approval of those websites' content, products, services, or policies. Therefore, readers should use discretion and judgment when applying the information to their circumstances. Finally, this blog post may be updated or revised without notice.