Some Interesting Tree Facts

• Two mature trees provide enough oxygen for a family of four
• Trees help reduce the "greenhouse effect" by absorbing CO₂. One acre of trees removes 2.6 tons of CO₂ per year
• By cooling the air and ground around them, the shade from trees helps cool the Earth's temperature
• Trees help prevent city flooding by catching raindrops and offsetting runoff caused by buildings and open area
• Hospital patients heal faster, require shorter stays and less painkillers if room windows face trees
• Well placed trees help cut energy costs and consumption by decreasing air conditioning costs 10-50% & reducing heating costs as much as 4-22%
• One person causes about 10 tons of carbon dioxide to be emitted a year. One tree removes about 1 ton of CO₂ during it's life time
• Britain is thought to have the largest population of 'ancient' trees in Europe
• A fully-grown Oak in the UK grows - and sheds - 250,000 leaves every year and produces around 50,000 acorns in a good year
• Around 6000 trees were used in the construction of HMS Victory of which 90% were Oak, now moored at Portsmouth
• A healthy mature Birch tree can produce up to 1 million seeds in a good year
• Over 5000 products come from trees, including fruit, nuts, paper, wood, and cleaners. One of the earliest forms of life on planet earth, people can learn a lot from trees
• Trees renew our air supply by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen
• Tree roots stabilize soil and prevent erosion
• Yew leaves may help in treatment of cancer.  A drug called Taxol can be produced from them
• Britain’s oldest tree is probably the Forthingall Yew in Tayside, which is believed to be over 3000 years old
• Knocking on wood for good luck originated from primitive tree worship when rapping on trees was believed to summon protective spirits in the trees
• There are about 20,000 tree species in the world