Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, Cllr Howard Sykes, is keen to encourage the residents of our Borough to do something positive in National Tree Week to mark the importance of trees in our lives.

First started in 1975, National Tree Week marks the start of the winter tree planting season. National Tree Week this year is from 29th November to 7th December 2014.

Each year, partner organisations, such as local authorities, schools and community groups, work with the National Tree Council and its network of 8,000 Tree Wardens organise events that inspire up to a quarter of a million people to plant around a million trees.

Cllr Sykes said: “Not only do trees provide the oxygen that we breathe; the wood we use for construction and to heat our homes; and some of the food that we eat, but woodlands are great habitats for wildlife and great places for us to enjoy, whether it be for a romantic walk, a family picnic or for children to play hide-and-seek.

“Earlier this year I wrote to my Liberal Democrat colleague, Forestry Minister, Dan Rogerson MP, seeking a Forestry Bill to provide for the care of this nation’s forestry estate and to provide greater legal protection for Britain’s ancient forests.

“Under Dan’s stewardship, this Government has planted one million new trees and I am pleased that the Lib Dems at its last conference pledged to plant one new tree for every baby born in this country.

“Everyone can do their bit during National Tree Week – you can go out and plant a native British tree in your garden; if you are a school governor you can pledge to take action to plant trees your schools grounds and to ensure that it becomes a Forest School; and for those of you who are active in Friends of Parks groups you can look online to find out how you can become one of the National Tree Council’s trained tree wardens, who do so much work to help preserve the health of our woodlands”.

Further information about National Tree Week can be found on the website of the National Tree Council – http://www.treecouncil.org.uk/