The importance of trees

Tottenham Trees
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For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider,
every green tree is far more glorious
than if it were made of gold and silver.

Martin Luther

Why Trees are so important:

They:   
Produce oxygen
Store carbon
Stabilise soil
Moderate effects of sun, wind & rain
Absorb pollutants and mask noise
Mitigate the Urban Heat Island effect
Provide a habitat for wildlife 
Give us food and shelter
Improve health and mental well-being
Furnish recreational spaces in cities

Picture
photo: Margaret Burr
​Trees and woods are hugely valuable for our health, happiness and our children’s development.  

Trees
give us oxygen, store carbon, stabilise the soil and give life to the world's wildlife.  They also provide us with the materials for tools and shelter.


Trees are essential in urban areas .

Carbon Capture

The build up of carbon dioxide (CO2), in the atmosphere is contributing to climate change. Trees absorb CO2, the main greenhouse gas associated with climate change, removing it from the atmosphere, they store the carbon whilst releasing the oxygen back into the air for our benefit.

Cut Leaf Illustrations for 'Plant for the Planet'

The message on the leaf, by Christopher Jobson,  as part of a campaign for Plant for the Planet illustrates the importance of trees in tackling climate change: 
                            Every leaf traps CO2
To see more in the series click below
Cut Leaf Illustrations
Picture
Picture
photo: Stephen Middleton

Trees clean the air

Trees provide oxygen and they absorb polluting gases such as nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and ozone.  They filter the unhealthy particules from the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark.  A large beech tree can provide enough oxygen for the daily requirements of ten people, and catches dust and pollutants on its leaves. 

Trees provide natural flood defences

Trees stablise the soil.  Forestry research has shown that trees are use more water than other vegetation types, mainly through interception. Forests can also affect floods through their soils holding back and delaying the passage of rainwater to streams and rivers. They are usually drier during the summer due to their higher water use, enhancing the soil’s ability to store rainwater – the sponge effect.
Flood risk reduction
Picture
photo: Stephen Middleton
Picture
photo: Stephen Middleton

Improve our physical health and mental well-being

The health benefits of urban trees fall into two groups: the pollution-controlling aspect and the benefits of the spaces they create. Trees and woods can have a restorative and therapeutic effect on the mind. Trees have a positive impact on the incidence of asthma, skin cancer and stress-related illness by filtering out polluted air; they also reduce smog formation and shade out solar radiation.
Trees and health: NHS Forest
Picture
Nature Deficit disorder:
The term Nature Deficit Disorder was first coined by Richard Louv,
to describe a growing dislocation between children and nature.
Nature Deficit Disorder describes the human costs of alienation
from nature, among them: diminished use of the senses, attention
difficulties, and higher rates of physical and emotional illnesses.


The National Trust commissioned a report Natural Childhood
by Stephen Moss in 2012 which explores the issue. As the report notes:
Our nation’s children are also missing out on the pure joy of
connection with the natural world; and as a result, as adults they lack an
understanding of the importance of nature to human society.
If we do not reverse this trend towards a sedentary, indoor childhood
– and soon – we risk storing up social, medical and environmental
problems for the future.



Native trees
Explore Britain's native trees. Discover useful identification tips, uses, value to wildlife and some threats that are putting our native trees at risk.
Common non-native trees
Common non-native treesExplore some common non-native trees in the UK. Learn more about some of Britain's commonly found and naturalised species.
Native trees
Non-native trees

According to Trees for Cities the 33 native British tree species (in order of their arrival) are:

Common juniper
Downy birch
Silver birch
Aspen
Scots pine
Bay willow
Common alder
Hazel
Small-leafed lime
Bird cherry
Goat willow
Wych elm
Rowan
Sessile oak
Ash
Holly
Common oak
Hawthorn
Crack willow
Black poplar
Yew
Whitebeam
Midland thorn
Crab-apple
Wild cherry
Strawberry-tree
White willow
Field maple
Wild service tree
Large-leafed lime
Beech
Hornbeam
Box
These are the trees that colonised Britain during the retreat of the last Ice Age.

Find out what's happening!
Learn more about trees
Find out out about the Tree Charter
Sign up for  Tottenham Trees Occasional Updates
Contact us at: tottenhamtrees@gmail.com
In Tottenham seven trees were planted in a ring over 400 years ago for reasons lost in time; the Seven Sisters area and the underground station are named after them. The seven trees have been replanted a number of times, always by seven sisters. 

The Tottenham Trees logo, shown on the right, is a silhouette of the Bruce Castle Oak with the logo of the Charter for Trees, Woods and People launched in November 2017, on the 800th anniversary of the Royal Charter of the Forest.

Picture
  • Tottenham Trees
    • #HaringeyFavouriteTrees 2022
    • #HaringeyFavouriteTrees 2021
    • Special trees in Tottenham >
      • Bruce Castle Oak >
        • Arboricultural survey
        • Reminiscences of the Bruce Castle Oak
        • Calling Tree >
          • Calling Tree: gallery
      • Mulberry tree
      • Seven Sisters
    • Trees in Tottenham (Galleries) >
      • Tottenham trees (A-D common name)
      • Tottenham Trees (E-K common name)
      • Tottenham Trees (L-R common name)
      • Tottenham Trees (S-Z common name)
    • Trees in Art from Tottenham
    • Trees in Words from Tottenham >
      • Epping
      • It's a Word Thing!
      • Message on leaves
      • Ode from the Oak
      • Of this tree
      • The Elder
    • Tottenham parks >
      • St Ann's Redevelopment
    • Tottenham Tree Trails
    • Who we are >
      • Postcards and Bags
  • Charter for Trees
    • Charter history
    • Charter Principles
    • Independent Panel on Forestry
  • About Trees
    • Latest news on Trees 2021 >
      • Tree articles 2020
      • Tree articles 2019
      • Tree articles 2018
      • Tree articles 2017
      • Tree articles 2016
      • Tree articles 2015
    • Threats to our trees
    • Tree Identification
    • Tree Quizzes >
      • Celebrating Trees Quiz 2019 >
        • Answers: Celebrating Trees 2019
      • Celebrating Trees 2018 >
        • Answers: Celebrating Trees
      • Lazy Sunday Tree Quiz >
        • Answers: Lazy Sunday
    • Global Tree Calendar
  • Urban Trees
    • Growing trees from seed
    • iTree surveying
    • Street Trees for Living
    • Tree care
    • Tree packs for free
    • Tree planting
    • Trees in the Townscape
  • Inspirations
    • Wangari Maathai >
      • Green Belt Movement
      • Institute and Foundation
      • First Seven Trees
      • Remembering Wangari
      • Kenya
    • Felix Finkbeiner
    • Chico Mendes
    • Chipko Movement
    • Plant for the Planet >
      • 3 Point Plan
    • Inspiring stories from around the world
  • Tree Events
    • Tree Charter Day 2019 >
      • Legacy Oak Ale
    • Urban Tree Festival 2019
    • Wassail 2019
    • Tree Charter Day 2018
    • Tree Charter Day 2017
    • 800 year Charter anniversary
    • Poetry Sunday @ Bruce Castle
    • Poetry @ The Room
    • Calling Tree: Tottenham
    • London National Park City 2018
    • London Tree Week 2017
    • London Tree Week 2016
    • Other Tottenham tree events
  • Green Spaces
    • Other Haringey Green Spaces
    • London Friends of Green Spaces
    • London National Park City
    • Parks cafe trail
    • The Conservation Volunteers
    • Future Forest