Even if the celebration lasts just seven days, take the time to enjoy the trees around you all year long and play your part in helping to preserve our precious eco system. These resources will help set you on your woodland way.
Tree Council
You'll find a wealth of information on how to get involved in National Tree Week with a useful interactive map showing tree activities across the UK. A number of libraries in England, Scotland and Wales are running tree themed displays. Get your kids to organise a party to celebrate trees or perhaps enjoy a scavenger walk in the woods. The Tree Council has a downloadable pack with activity ideas, bunting and more. There are also three talks that you can register to watch, covering how to read trees, a talk on literature and creativity and finally a talk on the nation's important heritage trees and what needs to be done to better protect them. Find out more here.
Woodland Trust Tree of the Year
The Woodland Trust is full of information for tree lovers and not least, running the Tree of the Year contest, which was won by Scotland's Skipinnish Oak in 2024. The tree is 400 years olds and stands in an airy clearing within a dark spruce plantation in Lochaber. It is one of the largest oaks in the region and a local treasure. The Woodland Trust highlights how vital trees are for our landscapes and our lives, helping to combat climate change and biodiversity loss. Many of the UK's oldest and most valuable trees have no legal protection and the Trust seeks to address this. Find out more here.
Forest bathing
The National Trust has a useful article on the benefits of forest bathing. There is nothing more peaceful than walking into the middle of a quiet wood and taking time out to enjoy the space around you. You don't need any kit, just the time to switch off and immerse yourself in the woodland surroundings, picking up on the light, sounds and birds around you. Find out more here.
Forestry England
Forestry England looks after the nation's forests, giving the public access to woodland, providing car parks and thousands of miles of trails while managing and planting millions of trees. The Active Forests programme allows visitors to watch wildlife, walk, ride bikes or horses or simply have good old-fashioned outdoor fun. With 285 million visits a year, it certainly is playing its part in enhancing the nation's quality of life. Find out more here.
Trees in Royal Parks
If you live in London, the Royal Parks play an important part in London's eco system. With over 170,000 trees in the Royal Parks, some of them are the oldest and largest living things in the landscapes. These trees help give the parks their different characters and provide a haven for wildlife and visitors alike. With projects continually on the go, it's easy to escape city life and reimagine the countryside here, even it is just for a few snatched minutes of peace. Find out more here.
Forest Holidays
If you fancy a holiday in the middle of a wood, head to Forest Holidays, whose holidays are good for people and the planet. The company has a team of 800 people, overseeing 244.5 hectares of forest. They manage the land for conservation and create holiday cabins in spell-binding locations. From the Welsh woodlands in Garwnant to the Cornish coast at Deerpark, you'll find adventure a plenty waiting across thirteen locations. Find out more here.
National Parks
There are fifteen National Parks in the UK and each is a protected landscape because of its special qualities. Not forests per se, you'll find woodland among these parks and as a place to reconnect with nature, you'll find no better location. There are stunning vistas, wildlife and interesting histories. Find out more here.
