Tree Planting in Anglia
Published 1st February 2021
Planting trees is one of the best ways of removing CO2 from the atmosphere to tackle the climate crisis, so we were delighted to deliver planting schemes on several Network Rail earthworks sites in Anglia recently. We planted 1000m of new native hedgerow and 1 hectare of mixed broadleaves.
The planting coincided with the 45th National Tree Week which began on the 28th of November. The Tree Council charity began their event back in March 1975 and it has since become the UK’s largest annual tree celebration; signifying the start of the UK’s tree planting season, which occurs from November to March. Planting trees during this period gives them a chance to establish their roots before they have to compete with surrounding trees for resources during the spring/summer growing seasons.
As well as trees positively impacting our environment, they also have great benefits for us too! They make our towns and cities greener and leafier - and they relax us as well. According to The Royal Parks, research shows that within minutes of being surrounded by trees and green space, your blood pressure drops, your heart rate slows and your stress levels come down.
The Importance of Biodiversity
Taziker use Network Rail’s Biodiversity Calculator during the planning stages of our projects, to record the impact on biodiversity and to help demonstrate that biodiversity has been taken into consideration. We ensure that our projects always promote net gain and replace any lost habitat.
According to the State of Nature 2019 report, 41% of species have declined over the last 50 years. This includes birds, insects, and small mammals. Planting trees creates larger and stronger ecosystems that provide shade, shelter and food to help protect our vulnerable creatures. With only 13% of UK land covered by woodlands (3.17 m hectares), it is important that our projects do not negatively affect this.
There are two United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which directly relate to biodiversity: 'life below water' and 'life on land'. Both promote the protection and restoration of these ecosystems while sustainably managing resources to reverse land degradation and stop biodiversity loss. Taziker are in the process of completing a Biodiversity Action Plan which will present a clear process to follow from the outset of any of our projects to ensure all have complete awareness of how to correctly protect and enhance our sensitive environment, achieving these important UN SDGs.
Understanding biodiversity is a very important aspect of environmental awareness, we want to ensure going into the future that we have the relevant knowledge to implement important and lasting change.
