Over the last thousand years or so we’ve had a significant impact on our environment. Some say that we’re now at a breaking point, and the extreme climate issues of scorching summers and vicious storms seem to evidence that things need to change. But you don’t need to march in the streets or block bridges to do something – you can do your bit for the environment by deciding to Plant a Tree or two this year.
The Average Person’s
Carbon Footprint
Did you know that the
average person produces just under 6 tonnes of CO2 every single year? That
sounds like a lot – and it is. In fact, as a nation we produce around
360,000,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. This is made up of all sorts of things from
electricity and gas in our homes to the production and sourcing of our food,
fuel for transport and the luxury products we buy every day.
So it’s no surprise that
reducing emissions on a personal level is now the personal goal of many people
across the world. But what can you do to make a real difference? Well, you
could cycle or walk rather than use the car for shorter journeys, you could
better insulate your home so you can turn the thermostat down a few degrees,
and you could plant a tree to help offset what you cannot change in your life.
Will Planting Trees Save
The Planet?
Honestly? Not by itself.
Climate change is such a complicated thing that no single action could possibly
reverse it. But by planting a tree you will be offsetting your carbon footprint
and making your property and community more beautiful at the same time.
Trees are amazing things.
They are natural carbon eaters and form the yin to our yang of unavoidable
carbon creation. You see, every living thing on Earth is made up of four basic
elements – carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. Those four elements make up
around 96% of the human body, and they also make up most of the roots, trunk,
leaves and branches of trees. The only difference is how all the molecules are
all arranged!
But while we humans get
most of our carbon through eating food, trees breathe it in the same way we breathe
air. When a tree ‘breathes’ it is inhaling carbon dioxide from the atmosphere
and exhaling oxygen – the exact thing we need as humans to survive. And as the
tree grows and matures, a single one can consume around 48 pounds of carbon
dioxide every year. So, think of trees as our natural air filters. At a time
when we are producing too much CO2 for the environment to handle, what we need
is more filters to get rid of it. That’s where more trees can help.
How Can You Help?
When it comes down to it,
there are a lot of different ways you can support the environment. And if you
do a quick Google search, you will soon be swamped with ideas. But one of the
best, in my opinion at least, is to plant a tree (or even more than just one).
Though, before you go rushing out to your local garden centre, it would make
sense to speak with your friendly neighbourhood tree surgeon to find out which
species will thrive in your garden, where to put them and how many.
If you don’t quite have the space for a tree at home? You can always donate to one of the many organisations dedicated to planting trees across the country and the world, like The Canopy Project or Offset Earth to do your bit to reduce your personal carbon footprint.
Learn more about why you should plant a tree - https://www.n0co2.org/
To book a survey and consultation with one of our ARB Approved arborists for advice on your trees, or to book our tree surgeons to prune/maintain or fell your tree(s), call us on 0208 292 8992.
Learn more about our Tree Surgery and Maintenance - https://www.thorstrees.co.uk/services-tree-surgery-maintenance/