By Sophie Cooper

A WOODLAND charity, The Heart of England Forest, is urging people to get involved with their planting sessions to save the environment.

According to the Forestry Commission, only 10 per cent of total land area in England are woodland areas, which have had a less than 3 per cent change in these areas used and the rate of replanting over the last five years.

With the BBC predicting an increase of C02 concentration to 2.75 parts per million, volunteers are urging people to get involved with tree planting to combat this issue.

Steven Cheshire, communications manager of the trust commented: “It (tree-planting) improves air quality by absorbing polluting particles. This reduces fossil fuels from vehicles and the impact of climate change."

The Heart of England Forest, founded by local landowner Felix Dennis aimed to create a joint woodland that would help the local wildlife prosper.

The charity, who had successfully planted 141,556 trees in 2018, are hosting a tree planting day on February 16 to help create England’s largest new native Broadleaf forest and expand on the 27,300 trees they have planted this season, benefitting not only the wildlife but the local community.

Mr Cheshire said: “On a social level, it provides a place for people to visit and get away. A tree we plant today will last an average, of 100-200 years. The impact will last for generations and decades to come”.

If you would like to get involved with this event you can register your interest at eventbrite.co.uk