Why woods?

You may have (hopefully) heard about the campaign now underway to buy and protect the Hundred Acre Wood (Minnes land) in Wakefield. Off the top let me say that I have no active role with the group running the campaign. (For background on their project check their Facebook page, “HundredAcreWood” and/or “$540K grant denied to Hundred Acre Wood,” June 9 edition of The Low Down.)

As anyone who knows me is aware, I’m a big tree lover. I got my first, and only-to-date court injunction trying to protect trees; my business is carbon neutral through a tree planting program in Nicaragua; I hug trees all the time; and, heck, I’ve even dated a tree, but he never wanted to go out, so that didn’t work.

Seriously though, there’s one angle in this conservation effort I haven’t heard, and I think/ hope we can get on board with it. Most of us drive, have and may again take trips on planes, and burn wood in our homes. All these contribute to climate change. And using wood as fuel depletes forests.

What does this have to do with saving the Hundred Acre Wood? Lots of us want to help reverse the effects of climate change. I learned, in an excellent webinar hosted by the La Pêche Coalition for a Green New Deal, that saving mature trees is one of the most effective ways to combat the heating up of our planet. One of the scientists featured talks about “pro-forestation” being way more efficient than reforestation – although planting trees is always good too, of course. You can hear a short version of Dr. William Moomaw’s concept of pro-forestation on La Pêche Media’s Facebook page – posted on Feb. 22, or Google him.

My point is — here we have a fantastic opportunity for a local way to offset our carbon use through the protection of the Hundred Acre Wood. Simple, straightforward, and tax-deductible. Save the mature carbon-capturing trees, safeguard habitat, walking trails, the natural beauty of the place, and ease your conscience all at the same time! — while taking other climate-saving actions too, bien sûr.

Details on how to make donations can be found on the Hundred Acre Wood Facebook page, or to pledge, contact Olaf Jensen, director of ACRE [Action Chelsea for Respect of the Environment] at olaf.son.of.ken@gmail.com. The Hundred Acre Wood Conservation group is working with ACRE on various ways to raise funds, including reviewing government and agency grants. Pledged money from individuals and local businesses will not be collected until the required purchase amount is met.

Let’s pitch in.

Anne Winship is a relentless tree hugger, owner of Bean Fair Coffee, and lives in Masham.