Why are trees important?
Trees are great to sit under on hot summer days or for sheltering from rain in the winter, but they play a big role in keeping the planet going too. Here are four reasons that trees are important to our environment:
- They remove pollution from the air. Trees make the energy they need to grow using a process called ‘photosynthesis’. During this they absorb carbon dioxide in the air, removing one of the greenhouse gases that contributes to global warming.
- They release oxygen. During photosynthesis trees also release oxygen into the air. Without them we wouldn’t be able to breathe!
- They keep soil in place. Tree roots can stretch out wide or deep underground. Some oak trees can even have roots up to 7 times longer than their branches! Tree roots can act a bit like a net that keeps all the soil in one place, stopping it from washing away with the rain. This can reduce flooding and stop rivers from clogging up.
- They offer homes and food to wildlife. Trees are a big part of wildlife habitats. Without them there would be nowhere for birds to nest, no nuts for squirrels to eat, and nothing for insects to live in either!
What is an arboretum?
Sir Harold Hill Gardens is also an arboretum, that’s a garden dedicated to growing trees. The word comes from the Latin word ‘arbor’ meaning ‘tree’. They’re great places to study how trees grow and learn about how we can look after them.
By having so many trees and plants from all over the world growing, arboretums can make sure that certain species of tree don’t go extinct. If a particular species of tree is under threat in the wild, they can use the seeds from the trees of that species in an arboretum to grow more. This way they can eventually re-introduce the species into their natural habitat!