During lockdown I started walking circuits of my garden. The path takes only 55 steps to complete so I’ve come to know it very well! At a time when I was reluctant to leave the house for any reason it offered me freedom and sanctuary. I am still doing it even now. For me walking can be very painful so being close to the house and able to stop at any time is hugely beneficial. I feel safer, so I walk more. Doing this little walk regularly surrounded by the trees in my garden has brought me out into nature, improved my physical health and done wonders for my mental health also. As soon as I saw the NT was running this event I decided to sign up and help put more trees back into the country. Trees have always been important to me (child of the ‘87 hurricane as I am), so I’m doing what I can. I’d love your help to enable me to fund as many trees as possible as I walk around my garden 1,400 times throughout the month of October. And hopefully a few NT gardens along the way…

Trees provide homes for wildlife, reduce flooding and clean our air. Today the UK is the least wooded country in Europe, and 41% of UK wildlife species have been in decline since 1970. Trees are our best natural defence against the climate crisis which is why the National Trust has pledged to plant and establish 20 million trees by 2030. Our approach will deliver tree planting projects that benefit both people and nature. When you plant a tree, you contribute to reducing emissions, as these hardy plants work hard to lock up carbon. These trees will also open up new habitats for wildlife such as the red squirrel, the hazel dormouse, the greater spotted woodpecker and other birds like the song thrush and the red kite. Trees are good for nature. They're good for the climate. And they're good for people. It costs just £5 to plant one sapling and help grow the woodland of the future.