Each year we have National Tree Week  (28 November – 6 December).  National Tree Week is the UK’s largest annual tree celebration, marking the start of the winter tree planting season, the best time to plant young trees. There is a very direct link between trees and carbon capture as trees absorb carbon dioxide to grow and increasing tree cover worldwide will help to fight climate change. I spent an afternoon browsing the internet and found all sorts of interesting information.
 
I spent quite a time on The Tree Council website
https://treecouncil.org.uk/
where I found news items and information about tree planting schemes, projects to record ancient trees, and even a video of how to make chocolate leaf decorations.
 
On the Woodland Trust website
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/
I found information which said that a young wood with mixed native species can lock up 400+ tonnes carbon per hectare in trees, roots and soil and trees contribute much additional value in mitigating the effects of a changing climate. They can help to prevent flooding, moderate the temperature of the urban environment,  help to reduce air pollution and maintain soil quality. I found information on how to plant a tree, an A-Z of British Trees, a link to Osprey cam and you can even buy a tree from their shop.
The Woodland Trust has created a document setting out how the UK can tackle its climate and nature crises to expand tree cover and protect and restore woodland. Read our Emergency Tree Plan
The Government’s £640m Nature for Climate fund will help deliver the English part of its tree planting commitment, along with peatland restoration and nature recovery.
 
Via the Woodland Trust website as part of its THE BIG CLIMATE FIGHTBACK lobby activity I sent a message to the Rt Hon Mr George Eustice MP, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and the Cabinet Member responsible for the new Environmental Land Management Scheme (ELMS) asking that in addition to accelerating tree planting the management of existing trees and woodlands should be improved.  I pointed out that I am a member of the Womens Institute and a Climate Change Ambassador for my county Federation and that achieving net zero emissions as soon as possible is important to me and to many Bucks WI members.  I said that I was lucky to live in Milton Keynes which has planned a vast green infrastructure and has a tree planting policy and that all parts of the country should benefit from more trees being planted.
 
I also found research information about how walking in woodland can increase physical health, enhance mental wellbeing and positive feelings. A specific term called ‘forest bathing’ describes a Japanese practice known as shinrin yoku which is intended to promote relaxation, de-stress and boost health. The method is a very simple one, of being calm and quiet amongst trees, observing nature and breathing deeply.
See https://www.forestryengland.uk/blog/forest-bathing
I then got distracted by the link to tree related blogs including how to make a holy wreath and natural decorations for Christmas.
Earlier in the year in June Cath and I participated in a zoom event organised by the Wales Federation with the theme of Trees, Our Environment, Health and Wellbeing and these linked to their current campaigns for tree planting and mental health.  The first speaker talked about a local group which supported the recovery of those suffering from mental health issues by engaging in outdoor environmental tasks and gardening. The second speaker was a forester, Tom Jenkins Head of Forest Research in Wales who spoke about how trees were essential for the future of Wales in both environmental and economic terms. In his view the more trees and woodland the better but they should be the right trees in the right places. He stressed the importance of increasing public awareness and for the government to formulate an appropriate tree planting policy to meet climate targets.
 
On 19th July 2020 Cath completed a 10km sponsored run for the International Association of Human Values (IAHV) Climate Action Now-Tree Planting project. This initiative promotes tree plantations and, education of teachers and children on the effect of climate change across the globe and has so far planted 240,000 trees and thereby helped to reduce Co2 emissions. International Association For Human Values  Well done Cath, her friend and the two dogs Harley and Ziggy!
 
 
Yvonne Alton
December 2020

​Spurred on by the Bucks Federation’s centenary challenge to ‘walk 100 miles for 100 years’, Beaconsfield WI asked me to form a walking group and lead it through the year. By the end of October, the official end to the challenge, 111 different walkers had participated in 13 walks. We averaged 3.5 miles – the shortest walk a gentle 1.5miles, the longest 7.5 miles, walking the perimeter roads of Beaconsfield as a grand finale to the challenge.  The total distance walked was 366.5 miles. 

​Our year started off with a four-mile walk from a coffee house in Beaconsfield, walking in woods, fields and an unused country lane, to finish where we started with a well-deserved coffee and the chance for everyone to catch up after the Christmas break.
 
We managed to get out on a regular basis thereafter, so that by 12 March we had successfully completed five walks – one being the wettest walk the walk leader had ever led. The alpacas we saw did not seem to mind the rain but we did, so the walk was shortened to get back to the protection of the pub, where a hot drink was very welcome. 

Written by Jane Cutler, Chair, Science and Society Team
The resolutions about Modern Slavery and Stem cell donation are now WI mandates.
 
Are you using slave labour?
I am sure that I have in the past. But am I using it now? What about the guy with an Eastern European accent who cleaned our windows on that hot sunny day last week? Okay I gave him an ice cream and tipped him but was it his own window cleaning business or was he a Modern Day Slave? And how do I find out? And what about those builders who put up extensions for a really good price and only the boss speaks English? And just how do we know if the staff at the local “really cheap car wash and they do a good job” are getting paid a decent wage?

Now getting more personal do you use nail bars? Here’s a more positive story. A WI member had suspicions that slave labour was used at her nail bar. She tipped off the police and a prostitution ring was uncovered and dealt with. You see this is a case where
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
The recent Centre for Social Justice and Justice for Social Care recent report states that at least 100,000 victims of slavery are being abused and exploited by traffickers and crime gangs in Britain today. This is 10 times higher than a Home Office assessment six years ago!

So how can we WI members tackle this problem?

• Be aware what is happening locally. (In Cheddington we were astonished to learn of slavery happening on our doorstep. Several people were arrested and given long sentences in 2012 in a high profile case.)
• When the price of new clothes is too cheap to be true ask yourself why. Were they made in a sweat shop?
• Read the NFWI website for updates on the campaign.
• Ask your WI Secretary to make the NFWI End Modern Slavery Briefing available to all members online. Here you may read advice on how to spot slavery from the Metropolitan Police
• Being socially distance aware, discuss what actions you and your WI will take in your community.

 
BE SLAVE AWARE!!