The trees of life

A data scientist once patiently explained how we could reverse climate change. He told me that all you have to do is plant a trillion trees.

I thought about it a lot and even met the good people of the Woodland Trust to discuss it. On a small strip of Worcestershire land, we found a Yew Tree that Owen from the Woodland Trust estimated was about 800 years old. In the middle of this little wood, the Yew tree had grown in stature and significance to the extent that by the time we found it, pagans had “dressed” it in a colourful ceremony to mark one of the seasons.

That trillion trees ambition got to me. At the time, I thought that we’d never make any progress on human rights and are an equal world with Trump and Putin, but could we use the populist instinct to get more trees planted?

This week, the government reneged on a manifesto commitment to plant trees at a rate that will give us 17.5% of the country’s land covered in trees. I joined the debate on setting a new environmental target of 16.5% coverage. It doesn’t sound like a big deal, and with all the issues relating to Mr Zahwi’s taxes, it wasn’t covered in the media, but what a tragedy - what a missed opportunity.

Chair of the Woodland Trust, Baroness Young was “speechless” saying, “the woodland canopy cover target is the only one that has gone down rather than increased as a result of the Government’s post-consultation considerations. This instrument would slash the previous tree targets increase by a third from what was originally consulted on—and that is without any further discussion or impact assessment.” The previous target of 17.5% had been criticised for being too low.

It’s not just that planting a trillion trees will save the planet, though. It’s not even that I’ve taken “Wyre Forest” in my title. I’ve never walked out of a wood more stressed than when I walked into it. The Japanese call it ‘Forest bathing’ - the idea that woodland walks are uplifting and, in some way, cleanse the soul. Try it sometime, and you’ll know what I mean.

One of the things I’m looking at is the idea of a wellness manifesto for the next general election. Former MP Chris Ruane put the idea to me, and it’s a good one. The way we open up our forests could be part of the plan.

I felt sorry for the DEFRA minister Richard Benyon who had to deliver the bad news to the House of Lords Grand Committee. He’s a very good minister in a very poor government.

In the run-up to the general election, I will work behind the scenes to get this target back on track.

Reading

Thank you to readers who pointed me in the direction of The Lost Rainforests of Britain when I asked for book recommendations in the run-up to Christmas.

I was surprised to learn that a large area of England (and parts of Scotland and Wales) is, in fact, mild and wet enough to support temperate rainforests.

Author Guy Shrubsole describes the fragmented scraps of rainforest that have survived the ravages of industrialisation as “the pinnacle of our country’s woodlands”. He paints a magical picture of ancient forests rich with mosses, lichens and ferns. Trees growing on other trees, rare mammals and birds.

It’s a book that makes you want to pull on your waterproofs, pack a rucksack and go down to the woods. But The Lost Rainforests of Britain is more than just a call-to-adventure. It’s a call-to-arms; a plea for practical action to bring back our missing rainforests and protect those we still have. I can think of a few people in government who should read it.

There’s more from Guy on his website, including maps and a guide to help you work out if your nearest woodland is indeed one of Britain’s lost rainforests. If you find one, will you let me know?

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