A NEW initiative is helping raise crucial awareness of the benefits of trees and woodlands.

The charter for trees, woods and people is a UK-wide scheme led by the Woodland Trust and supported by Olveston Parish Council.

The aim of the charter is to raise awareness of the benefits of trees and woodlands, by collecting signatures, and for every signature taken, a tree will be planted somewhere in the UK.

Launched in November, the tree charter is an initiative by the Woodland Trust in response to the crisis facing trees and woodlands in the UK.

Olveston Parish Council has been recognised as a local council charter branch, and in return for encouraging residents to register their support by signing the charter, the council received a legacy tree - a sessile oak, planted on Sunday, November 19 by members of the parish council’s biodiversity committee along with local schoolchildren.

Olveston is the first parish council in South Gloucestershire to have a project specifically promoting biodiversity.

Richard Lloyd, of Olveston Parish Council, said: “I am delighted that Olveston Parish Council is supporting the tree charter and I hope that this is just the start of a concerted effort to enhance our parish with more trees in the right places."

On Friday, January 5, the council will be launching ‘Making Space for Wildlife’ at a free exhibition in the Methodist Hall in Olveston between 10am and 7pm, with TV presenter and ecologist, Mike Dilger there to present prizes to local children for the logo design competition at 4.30pm.

You can sign the tree charter by going to www.treecharter.uk and following the link.