What Benefit Do Trees for Cities Have?
Did you know that London is the world’s largest urban forest? The city is home to over 3,000 parks and boasts over 8 million trees across 388,400 of land. This is thanks to the work of passionate individuals and organisations like Trees for Cities, which are committed to improving lives and creating healthier environments in urban areas.
Trees for Cities – Why planting trees in cities is essential
- More oxygen, less carbon dioxide
Life on this planet would never have been possible without oxygen. This colourless, odourless gas plays a significant role in an organism’s helping it grow, reproduce, and generate energy.
But sadly, oxygen levels are slowly depleting. Research suggests that the decreasing oxygen levels are due to deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels, leading to population decline and altered ecosystems.
If there’s one function trees do best, it’s producing oxygen. In fact, a single leafy tree can produce enough oxygen for 10 people, making them ideal for cities, where oxygen levels tend to be lower.
Not only that but trees are also known to absorb and store carbon dioxide. If oxygen is crucial to your survival, CO2 is the complete opposite, causing headaches, difficulty breathing, and increased heart rates. Trees are necessary because they absorb the gas, minimising the risk of adverse health effects and climate change.
- Reduce the risk of flooding.
London is highly prone to flooding due to five different sources: the tides, rivers and tributaries, the sewers, the rain, and the groundwater. Climate change is becoming a bigger threat, causing flooding due to heavy downpours and rising sea levels.
But in addition to carbon dioxide, trees are also known to absorb water. After all, a tree needs water to survive, absorbing up to 450 litres daily. Because of this, planting more trees can help minimise the risk of flooding, especially in cities where the ground is made of impermeable materials.
Additionally, a tree’s roots help reduce soil erosion and slow the filtration of water into urban drainage networks, ultimately minimising the destructive effects of a flood.
- Reduce temperatures
Does London seem hotter than it was 30 years ago? You’re not just imagining things—climate change has increased the Earth’s temperature by 0.15 to 0.20°C every decade since 1975.
The rise in global temperatures is mainly due to human activities, such as the burning of coal and oil, deforestation, and livestock farming. Planting more trees can help combat the effects of these activities, thanks to a tree’s ability to release water vapour and provide shade.
How can you help build more trees in cities?
It’s no surprise that the work of Trees for Cities can greatly impact the environment, especially in heavily polluted urban areas. There are many ways for you to contribute to the organisation, but did you know that having a new boiler installed by Chelsea plumbing services is also an option?
WPJ Heating is a Chelsea plumbing company that has partnered with Trees for Cities to plant one tree for every boiler that you install. So far, WPJ Heating has given life to almost 2,000 trees with the organisation, staying true to its goal of becoming a sustainable business.
What’s great is that WPJ is already a trusted name in London’s heating and plumbing industry, boasting years of experience and a team of qualified, Gas Safe registered heating engineers. The company is also partnered with leading boiler manufacturers like Worcester Bosch and Vaillant, ensuring that their installation work is of the highest quality.
So, what are you waiting for? Plant a tree with WPJ Heating now and get a brand-new, more efficient heating system for your home at the same time.