The Woodland Connection

Our planet is suffering.

Our health is suffering.

Our kids' health is suffering.

These are unquestionable facts we are faced with today.

Future generations will look back and judge us on how we act with the knowledge and technology we have at our disposal.

We need to act. We need to start.

But where?

This is the question that confronted us when we set up 572.

We wanted to make a difference and to make a positive contribution to our community, our Island and the planet. And we were in danger of doing nothing.

We had great ideas — usually around trees and planting trees. We had an idea for a community tree planting app and an app that you could tag trees and share your tree stories.

But we were setting up a company, trying to keep 7 people employed and raising families alongside this. Time was never going to be something we had the luxury of.

So we decided to support people who are already making a difference.

Since we set up 572 we have been donating to the Isle of Man Woodland Trust and are delighted to have been announced as a platinum sponsor.

The Trust does an incredible job of planting native trees and maintaining areas of land on the Isle of Man. They are a team of volunteers who are making a difference on our Island today and for our future generations.

They are a team of people selflessly giving their time to making our Island and our futures better. Thank you to everyone involved in the organisation.

And trees. Why trees?

The Island’s tree cover is somewhere around 7%. That’s significantly lower than the UK at 11% and a far cry from the European average of 35%.

Trees are missing from our landscape. Not just trees but native trees in particular. They’re too slow growing. Not commercial. This is a poor lens to view our natural world through.

Trees are needed. We need them for our health and that of our future generations. The benefits to the planet are innumerable.

We’re a small Island, just 572 km² — increasing our tree cover should be a key focus of our contribution to the planet.

“Grow a forest. Protect it from axes that hack. Then the Lorax and all of his friends may come back.” ― Dr. Seuss, The Lorax

Better Futures.