Tree Charter

Make trees accessible to all

Trees offer shared experience to every age, religion and race. In woods people can work together, sharing experiences and learning from each other and their natural surroundings. Those who no longer move with ease can still find pleasure among the trees. Cheerful voices ring through leaves, from makeshift pitches and games of make-believe. There should be room for us all beneath spreading canopies.

TREE CHARTER IN ACTION

Articles
Evidence

Help children build a connection with trees in school
A connection with trees formed in childhood can last a lifetime, leading to adults who care about trees and nature and want to spend time among them for their work or leisure. Outdoor learning among and about trees should be part of the curriculum at all levels of education.

Support landowners to open their woods to people
Many people live close to woods that they cannot enter. Landowners should receive support and encouragement to overcome legal and practical barriers to allowing public access to their woods. Opportunities should be created for communities, landowners and organisations to explore ideas and work together to find ways for people to access and enjoy local woods in a safe, responsible way.

Involve communities in planting and managing trees and woods
The practical work of planting, monitoring and managing woodland habitats can involve volunteers who wish to give time to enhancing their community while spending time and gaining skills with trees. Local authorities and land managers should create opportunities for local residents to help create and manage woodland, trees and hedges in their community.

Identify and overcome barriers to accessing woods and trees
Everyone in society should feel able and welcome to enjoy time among trees irrespective of age, ethnicity, background and disability. Access to woodland, trees and green space should be a core driver of public funding schemes for public benefit. Local and national decision-makers need to address social and practical barriers to accessing woods and trees by ensuring affordable public transport access, and by promoting and facilitating inclusivity and diversity in these spaces.

Promote awareness of local opportunities to access woods and trees
People may not know that there are opportunities to spend time among trees. Clear information about local accessible woods and green spaces with trees should be available to all in society, including details of public transport links and structured opportunities for volunteering, socialising and exercising among trees.

Promote diversity and inclusivity in forestry and arboriculture
There are varied and rewarding opportunities for people of all backgrounds working with trees and timber, but these career paths are less well known and understood than others. Training opportunities and qualifications in tree and woodland management should be widely promoted as equal opportunities for all, and made accessible to everyone in society.

Support the creation of community woodland groups
Community woodland management brings people together around their local wood. Support should be made available to support the creation of local community woodland groups, including funding, peer support networks and expert advice in brokering relationships with managers of woodland on both private and public land.

Implement a Woodland Access Standard
Ensure no one is denied access to woodland by ensuring that no person lives more than 500m from an area of accessible woodland of 2ha or more, and no more than 4km from accessible woodland of no less than 20ha.

Foster a love of trees and woods across society
The best way to ensure a positive future for trees and woods is to ensure that people across the UK will stand up for them. Enabling and encouraging everyone in society to access and enjoy trees should be recognised as a strategic action to ensure that the next generation will care for and protect trees.

Safeguard the future of the Public Forest Estates
The Public Forest Estates represent a large percentage of accessible woodland in the UK. The Public Forest Estates of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland should be held in trust and maintained for the public benefit in perpetuity.

Natural Childhood
The National Trust’s Natural Childhood report examines the costs of ‘Nature Deficit Disorder’ and asks how we can reengage children with the natural world.
Read more
Natural Health and Equity
Friends of the Earth Europe have reviewed evidence that limited access to nature can compound health inequality.
Read more
Woods for Health strategy
Forestry Commission Scotland’s NHS green space initiative focuses on making local woodland accessible to encourage outdoor activity and healthy lifestyles.
Read more
NHS Forest
The NHS Forest website holds a collation of research and evidence on the health benefits of access to green space.
Read more
Public access to woodlands
This evidence review by Forest Research looked at the motivations behind and wellbeing benefits gained from visiting woodland.
Read more
Making Woodlands More Accessible
The Forestry Commission provides guidance on enabling access to woodland for disabled people and those with limited mobility.
Read more
The role of Community Woodland Groups
Llais y Goedwig outlines the benefits of community woodland groups now and in the future.
Read more

DON'T STOP THERE

Find your local greenspace with Ordnance Survey, wherever you live

Find out more

Three young boys look through a frame they’ve made out of branches

Inspire children with Going Wild’s great ideas for enjoying time in woods

Find out more

Become Nature Detectives and get seasonal ideas for having fun with trees

Find out more

A newly planted fruit tree on housing estate green space

Get people involved with your community orchard with The Orchard Project

Find out more

Find Wild Time ideas for all ages

Find out more

Sikh faith group planting trees in a wood

Follow the work of the Black Environment Network

Find out more

Become a Tree Council Tree Warden to stand up for trees in your local area

Find out more

Cyclist resting beneath a village tree with his bike

Access the Tree Council's Tree Futures grant scheme for schools and communities

Find out more

School group in high vis jackets being photographed beneath a tree

Get guidance from the National Tree Safety Group

Find out more

Learn how we can plan for greener local landscapes

Find out more

YOUR STORIES

Ancient yew tree surrounded by iron railings

"I don't get out in the woods very often, because I use a wheelchair, but when I do smells of the earth and the trees, leaves and flowers and everything combine into one wonderful green growing scent."

Catherine

Image: Stormwatch Pagan

"From when I was a small child in the 50’s to this very morning trees have been with me in my soul. My mother taught us the beauty of their wonder. To climb, hide, touch, smell they were to me the essence of my childhood. The animals that were living below and above the different leaves that fell in the golden autumn. I adore trees and to ride my horse through the them as I did today with the carpet of bluebells in view… Now that was magical."

Siobhan

Image: Sarah Rouse

Small child playing in a woodland carpeted with fallen leaves

"As a woodworker and outdoor practitioner trees are in my thoughts and life daily. Through outdoor work I have been privileged to introduce young people to the beauty and richness of the outdoors. Walking through woodland enables them to feel a connection with nature and learn how this habitat plays a part in our lives through the flora and fauna it homes. Woodland brings out the ‘play’ instinct in young people; shelter building, tree climbing, foraging for food – it’s amazing how a child is positive. They don’t like fruit until they get to pick something fresh off the tree or bush themselves. It is also a place for reflection and peace."

Cheryl

Image: Rossy McGarvey-Miranda

Orange, yellow and green leaves on autumn trees

"Trees and hedgerows have always played an important role in my life. Growing up in the early 1950’s on a new council estate on the outskirts of a small town and a minute’s walk to the fields was wonderful. I never spent much time indoors as the trees and hedgerows were a tremendous draw. We didn’t need a mobile phone to arrange a meeting place as our preferred meeting place was 'the third tree' set amongst the most glorious dog roses, sloes and hawthorn hedgerow."

Stuart

Image: Simon Rutherford

Park trees wrapped in colourful dressings

"I have lived in London for all my life. In this huge urban city there are thousands of trees, wonderful parks and squares and wildlife on our doorstep. It makes the city more beautiful and alive. Having had dogs now for 10 years I spend a lot of time in different parks around the city as well as going on weekends and holidays to the fantastic countryside in the UK. I love trees and plants and love seeing them in every season. If you’re having a bad day, spend some time with nature."

Karen

Image: Charron Puglsey-Hill

Urban park trees in front of high rise flats

"For me trees and woods are magical. As a child I was in another world of wonder. As an adult they are a place to relax, to unwind, to forget the stresses of everyday. Woods are a place to reconnect with nature, all the animals and escape our clean glass and brick world. We all need trees."

Andrew

Image: Donna West