A new initiative aimed at encouraging tree-planting to tackle climate change and biodiversity loss has launched.

The campaign, backed by organisations such as the Wildlife Trusts, Woodland Trust, National Trust, Horticultural Trades Association and Royal Horticultural Society, is asking individuals and communities to play their part in helping reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, and supporting nature recovery by planting flowers and trees, restoring community spaces and getting out into nature.

Whether it is planting a window box, flexing green fingers out in the garden or sprucing up a community space, the public are encouraged to #PlantForOurPlanet and share their story on digital channels and social media.

From planting flowers for pollinators to a tree in a garden, or wider nature activities such as building insect hotels, vegetable patches or simply letting your grass grow, by encouraging more people to get involved in the campaign, everyone can play a part in helping to protect and enhance the natural environment.

READ MORE: Forestry England publishes five-year plan

The campaign, launched on World Environment Day (Saturday 5 June), forms part of the Government’s efforts to drive action to tackle the biodiversity crisis and work towards nature-based solutions ahead of several major international summits this year, including the G7 (which is being hosted in Cornwall), the upcoming UN Biodiversity Conference (Convention of Biological Diversity COP15), and the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), which will be hosted in Glasgow later this year.

Speaking on a campaign launch visit to Walthamstow Village in Bloom, a community planting group in East London, environment minister Rebecca Pow said: “The world has an extraordinary opportunity at COP26 to come together to tackle climate change and reverse biodiversity loss.

“Plant For Our Planet is a chance for the public to take part, planting flowers and trees, restoring a community space and getting out into nature.

“Through thousands of individual actions, we want to send a simple message – we are in this together for our planet.”

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