The Bluesky National Tree Map is a massive digital database recording the location, height and canopy cover for over 300 million trees, and its results have shown patterns you might not have expected.
Strangely enough, some urban areas place above certain areas of the countryside in terms of tree cover.
The majority of areas with the highest percentage of tree cover are found in the south of England. The area with the highest cover is Surrey Heath, an area with lots of woodland, but London boroughs Camden and Croydon also feature. This is partly due to woodland areas, but tree lined streets and gardens are also crucial.
Peculiarly, many rural areas had some of the lowest tree cover. These areas are mainly used for farming, but they also include parts of the Yorkshire Dales National Park and an area of the Lake District. This is due to the clearance of woodland for grazing animals and the development of agriculture.
Trees are essential for so many reasons: from habitats, to improving mental health, to releasing the oxygen we breathe. Knowing where they are helps us to assess and understand their impact.
Written by Cara
Artwork by Zara Masood
Comments