Libraries and leisure

The value of trees

Hertfordshire without trees would be quite a different place. Only in the north of the county and some towns are trees no longer a characteristic feature in the landscape. Apart from this general contribution to local character, they have some specific roles. Some of these are summarised below:

Physical

• Tree roots help stabilise soils on slopes
• Fallen leaves decompose to help the development of soil
• Trees provide shelter and shade, help to absorb noise, and help scrub the air of pollutants

Biological

• Trees provide perches, roosts, and places for birds and small mammals to rear young
• They produce sap, pollen, fruits and nuts for insects and small mammals
• The shelter, cover and the protection from disturbance provided by trees is key to more secretive or vulnerable species thriving
• Dead leaves and wood provide a food source for a large number of invertebrates, many of them rare
• We have hardly begun to explore the potential of trees for their useful biochemical properties, or to appreciate them as a genetic resource

Cultural

• Apart from sometimes being great heritage features trees can have significance for marking a historic act (such as the oak under which Queen Elizabeth I was sitting when she first heard of her accession)
• Trees may also have been planted in commemoration of an event, or to mark a feature of long-term significance (such as a boundary).
• They may have a social value - as a meeting place, or somewhere where games are played.

Aesthetic

• Both gnarled stumps and grand specimens can make a visual impact.
• Trees can be found framing views, creating hidden spaces, mysterious tunnels, screening eyesores, acting as landmarks and navigational aids.
• In each season they provide interest, whether it be through blossom, bright new leaves against an azure sky, fiery autumn colours, or as they loom, rime-laden, out of the freezing mists of winter.

Inspirational

• There are many paintings, poems and other writings in Hertfordshire in which trees form the subject.
• There is just something special about a living organism that grows so large and lives so long; a beauty that can make one question just what or who is behind such natural creative energy.

Economic

• Once well managed, the county's trees form a resource of great potential economic value, whether it be when felled, converted, and shaped into timber and structures, used as firewood, or providing an environment that people will pay to visit.
• It is from trees that apples and sweet chestnuts come. And Holly is harvested for decorations.