It’s hot outside – trees have got us covered. 

The weather has been particularly warm these last few days and although the sunshine is very welcome here in South Yorkshire, it can cause problems for our animals and crops.

Trees are here to the rescue!… Did you know that trees can help us through these hot and dry patches. Here’s how.

Trees help by:

• Providing shelter from the heat for free-range sheep, cows and poultry –  studies show a reduction in lamb losses and better milk yields. Stress in animals from the hot weather can actually decrease milk production, meaning losses in the dairy market and less milk for consumption.

• Protecting plants and crops against drought by modifying the micro climate and reducing wind speed. Drought can cause poor germination rates, resulting in lower crop outputs, meaning less food for us and farm animals! (Shelter can also raise the soil temperatures which extends the growing season.)

Tree planting, even on small scales such as ‘shelter belts’ can reduce the spread of disease by creating a livestock proof hedge which segregates the herds between the fields. Shelter belts can also potentially increase arable yields as a result of efficient water use by increased infiltration rates associated with greater tree and hedgerow cover.

In a nutshell, trees can provide us with so many benefits and have got us covered yet again! Would you like help to plant some trees?

Please contact South Yorkshire Woodland Partnership on: woodlandenquiries@wildsheffield.com for more info or visit : www.wildsheffield.com/discover/sy-woodland-creation/