Trees are amazing things. They live longer than we do and throughout their lives, they do something useful every second of the day. Each one is a high rise hotel and snack bar for birds, mammals and insects.

Sadly, in my lifetime, Britain and the rest of the world has lost many of its natural woodlands and forests. Over the years I have helped to save woodlands and forests by planting the right trees in the right places all over the world – from Iceland, New Zealand, Africa, Asia, Australia, Borneo, Brunei, India, Fiji and many more.

Along with Tree Appeal, I have visited schools the length and breadth of the UK and have had some amazing experiences. Tree Appeal and I aren’t just interested in growing trees – we also want to help growing minds. That’s why I am excited to be part of Tree Appeal’s new initiative, Schools on the Wildside, which links tree planting to schools’ other environmental activities.

Planting trees in schools not only helps create woodland habitat, but provides an excellent learning resource. It is vital that our future generations are given the chance to forge important links with the natural world.

Planting trees is something I love, and working with Tree Appeal, I can help them with their task of stitching our own landscape back together, tree by tree.

Best wishes,