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Trees

(Image - 6 ways to get involved in Forest for Cornwall - see text for details)

Nothing guzzles carbon like a tree; woodland in the UK captures 20 million tonnes of CO2 annually and a study by Defra's science department, Forest Research, says soils store most carbon - a massive 72% of a wood's total. Native woods have other benefits: they enrich the soil, shelter livestock, reduce floodwater runoff, increase biodiversity, produce fruit crops and improve people's mental health all while storing carbon.

Forest for Cornwall is not a single area of a new forest but a Cornwall Council project to significantly increase the canopy cover throughout Cornwall while strengthening the protection of our existing trees, woodlands and hedges.  The diagram above shows 6 ways you can get involved in the Forest for Cornwall:

  1. Plant a tree in your garden
  2. Apply for a Grow Nature Seed Fund grant
  3. Become a tree warden
  4. Share #forestforcornwall on social media
  5. Apply for trees from the Woodland Trust
  6. Tell us what you are doing

What you can do

  • Plant a tree in your garden or ask a friend or neighbour to plant a tree on your behalf. Three native trees to consider are Crab Apple, Hawthorn and Silver Birch, all good for small gardens.
  • This year is a 'Mast' year when trees and shrubs produce a bumper crop of their fruit or nuts, so now is the time to collect seeds from our local trees and see if you can grow your own saplings.
  • Become a member of the Woodland Trust and fund a tree.

Sources of Information

13th January 2021