Trees offer gardeners 'many years of satisfaction and pleasure'

10:12:20 31st December 2009

When it comes to value-for-money in the garden, nothing can beat a simple tree, the head of arboretum at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, has advised.

Following on from the news that the Woodland Trust is calling for green-fingered volunteers to help with the creation of what will be the UK's largest man-made forest in Hertfordshire, Tony Kirkham has advised that the advantages of trees in the back garden far outweigh any potential drawbacks.

Writing for the Telegraph, the expert explained that trees are both simple and effective, having both practical and aesthetic benefits in a garden.

For example, trees can give a?three-dimensional scale?to gardens of any size, while they can also serve as focal points or work to soften hard borders.

Furthermore, trees can also enable homeowners to cut their bills by offering shelter from the wind.

In conclusion, Mr Kirkham noted: "Properly cared for throughout their life, trees will give the planter and their neighbours many years of satisfaction and pleasure."

Meanwhile, the Woodland Trust has launched a recycling scheme aimed at enabling Britons to reduce levels of Christmas waste.