Havering Friends of the Earth

The importance of trees

by Marion Sanders; first published 27-Jun-2025

A mature, established tree - Marion Sanders

Why should we care about trees? For many reasons! Firstly, they mitigate climate change – as well as absorbing carbon dioxide, trees also sequester it, which means locking up and storing the carbon inside. This is then transferred to the soil via leaves that fall to the ground. Climate change is already causing more flooding, and trees are vital flood defences, helping by reducing the amount of water entering streams and rivers.

Our health and wellbeing can be directly improved by trees. During hotter summers (again, climate change!) trees provide much-needed shade along our streets, gardens and through parks. Furthermore, research has shown trees release chemicals called phytoncides, which strengthen our immune, hormonal, circulatory and nervous systems when we breathe them in. Trees can improve quality of life by reducing symptoms of stress, depression, anxiety, and even lower blood pressure. In a suburban area such as Havering, trees are also vital for reducing air pollution – they are able to reduce both indoor and outdoor air pollution by a huge 50%!

Trees are home to vast biodiversity, such as birds, bats, butterflies and insects, and in particular it's the old trees that are most valuable. These are irreplaceable – the older a tree, the more vital to wildlife it becomes. These older trees also store the most carbon, which is released if they're cut down. It's therefore important that old trees are protected, as well as new ones planted.

Sadly, there's been much destruction to trees within Havering recently. In March, the Romford Recorder shockingly reported that Havering has seen the biggest drop in tree cover of all London boroughs since 2018, from 25% tree cover down to just 14%. In December 2023, 4000 trees planted by volunteers in Harrow Lodge Park were "accidentally" mowed down after an administration error. There have been continued battles with Network Rail cutting down trees along the Liberty Line, and in May 2025 a very old, much-loved oak tree in Harrow Lodge Park was felled without warning or apparent reason.

So, what can we do? The Woodland Trust has urged councils to have "action plans for nature", which Havering could adopt, and have a focus on planting trees and protecting the ones we have. As residents, we can protect trees by not cutting them down in our gardens unless we really have to. You can visit the Trees for Streets website and use it to ask Havering to sign up to the "Tree Sponsorship Scheme", and you can contact your local MP and say more must be done regarding tree planting/protecting. You could even plant a tree in your garden if you have the space!