National Tree Week 2024: Celebrating our favourite trees
To mark National Tree Week 2024, researchers working across NetZeroPlus, ADD-TREES and VOCul share a selection of their favourite trees and woodlands. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
The View towards Borrowdale from Skiddaw
Dr Jon McCalmont, a researcher at the University of Aberdeen who brings expertise on modelling of soil carbon and remote sensing to NetZeroPlus, shared this stunning photo from one of his recent trips to Cumbria. Cumbria is one of Jon’s favourite places, and I think we can all see why.
Jon says “The view towards Borrowdale from Skiddaw, autumn trees lending a wealth of colour”.

Young Beech in the Pine
This image has been provided by Dr James Morison. James is the Principal Climate Change Scientist from Forest Research and works across a variety of areas of NetZeroPlus research.
“This is a particular favourite of mine as it reminds me of a dancer twirling on a dark stage. But it also reminds us of the need to diversify tree species to improve resilience to future changes – the growth of these pines is affected by Dothistroma needle blight.”

On campus, really vibrant colour changes bring joy on the way to lectures
Professor Amy Binner, the lead researcher on the VOCul project, and expert researcher on all of our family of projects, describes herself as a ‘a tree loving dweeb’. Amy can’t single out a single favourite tree, like many of us, but highlights the value of nature to our wellbeing in our daily lives.
“The vibrant colour changes over the seasons bring joy on the way to lectures.”

My Favourite Cherry Tree
Professor Ian Bateman, our lead researcher on the NetZeroPlus project, shared this photo of his favourite cherry tree in the snow this week.

Fingle Bridge in Autumn
Dr Kate Gannon is the NetZeroPlus Manager and a trained Mental Health First-Aider. Kate loves to spend her down time walking in the beautiful Devon Countryside with her family, and says:
Nature makes us better. Along with improving our quality of life, spending time in green spaces can help to make us physically healthier and improve our mental wellbeing. There is lots of research highlighting just how important spending time outside is for us, and I am proud to be part of a project that is seeking to demonstrate how invaluable nature is, and improve access to beautiful green spaces for us all.





