Greening the grey: Trees for streets

If you followed the furious protests by Sheffield residents against the mass felling of street trees by the local council, you'll know how in a bid to save costs, local authorities have chopped down over 100,000 trees over recent years. And despite many claiming to have replaced felled trees, saplings simply cannot match the benefits of a mature-canopy tree.

Trees are hugely beneficial - especially in towns and cities. Not only do they provide shade that cools pavements during heatwaves, but they absorb airborne pollution and CO2. Mature trees also act as a natural defence against pavement parking. And the benefits of trees go beyond the physical. Research has proved what many folk have always known; trees have a positive impact on our sense of well-being.

According to a researcher at Trees for Cities, "One of the really interesting things we found is that exposure to greenspace significantly reduces people's levels of salivary cortisol - a physiological marker of stress."

The practice of shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing, has long been practised in Japan. Quite apart from the calming effect of spending time around nature, trees emit phytoncides - a form of essential oil with natural antimicrobial and insecticidal qualities that protect the tree from infection and are thought to be beneficial to people too.

Trees for Streets is another charity dedicated to unleashing the power of trees to transform streets and housing estates into green vibrant places. Over the next decade the organisation aims to support the planting of over 250,000 street trees.

The project helps people work with their local councils to sponsor the planting of street trees. The costs of sponsorship can be reduced if residents volunteer to water the sapling over its first three years.

The interest in street trees mirrors the growing support for parklets - small pockets of urban tranquillity that take the place of a parking space.

The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK's most ethical provider.

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