The environment

We all have a responsibility to ensure that our environment and the other species with which we share the planet are valued and looked after if our children are to inherit a world worth living in.

In recent years our environment has, for some people, become a matter of great concern and rightly so. Human activity, particularly over the last 150 years, has had a devastating effect on the world's fragile ecosystems, including of course trees.

We all have a responsibility to ensure that our environment and the other species with which we share the planet are valued and looked after if our children are to inherit a world worth living in. This responsibility includes businesses and to this end Down To Earth intends to be at the forefront of the new approach that will be needed if we are to meet the government's requirements to reduce our carbon output by 80% by 2050.

Glenn Morris, founder of Down To Earth Trees, has over the last 10 years developed a passion for the environment largely resulting from extensive travel and environmental work in the Arctic. Glenn has seen, first hand, the very real and alarming problems that face the world and realises that as individuals or as a small company we can begin to help and act in a manner that encourages changes of attitude and behaviour.

With this objective as a goal Down To Earth Trees is:

• Working with Myerscough College to implement and finance a detailed carbon analysis of the tree industry at MSc level to develop a strategy, timeline and methodology to help tree businesses reduce carbon outputs and operate in an environmentally acceptable way.

• Achieved ISO 14001 (Environmental Management Systems)

• Recycling all waste material including:

  • Timber for firewood

  • Timber for commercial heating systems

  • Woodchips as biomass for local power station

  • Office waste

  • Staff waste

• Using, wherever possible bio fuels and oils for our machinery.

• Actively encouraging environmentally friendly practices among our clients.

• Supporting our local Agricultural College at Hadlow, Tonbridge, in their efforts to promote good environmental practice by sponsoring an annual award for the best environmental project.

• Working with, as a corporate member, Kent Wildlife Trust to help and support their work through practical and financial means.

Are you able to keep the cut material (logs, branches or woodchips) following the work?

Stacked logs in the corner of the garden, if space allows, make a wonderful wildlife habitat for frogs, hedgehogs and invertebrates. Woodchips can be used as a garden mulch or composed and even branches when densely stacked from ideal nest sites for wrens.

Could you plant a replacement tree?

Ideally one that would prove good for wildlife e.g. birch, oak or a tree with berries. Learn about our tree planting service.

Can you find a spot for a bird or bat box?

Down to Earth can help with this and supply and install it if required.

If you have deadwood in your trees, if it does not pose a significant risk then consider leaving it in the tree or if you have to remove it stack it up has a habitat pile.