National Tree Week 2025: Putting biodiversity at the heart of responsible business

National Tree Week marks the UK’s largest annual celebration of trees and takes place from 22 November to 30 November 2025. Organised by the Tree Council, the week is a nationwide call to action that reminds us of the essential role trees play in sustaining life, supporting biodiversity and tackling the climate crisis. At Wylde Connections, the week embodies the principles we champion every day in our work with businesses, helping organisations build nature-positive strategies that protect ecosystems while driving long-term success.  

Throughout our services ecosystem (the Wylde Hive), which covers everything from strategy development through to training and marcomms, we encourage companies to go beyond compliance and take responsibility for their impact on the natural world. National Tree Week offers the perfect opportunity to reflect on that responsibility and to start taking practical steps to being nature positive. 

Trees are among the most powerful allies in our efforts to restore balance to the planet. They regulate our climate, store carbon, clean the air, protect soils, and provide habitats for countless species. Trees, woodlands and forests play a key role in greenhouse gas removal. The Climate Change Committee recommends that we should be aiming to plant around 30,000 hectares of new woodland in the UK every year until 2050. Doing so could absorb approximately 10% of residual Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. 

Beyond carbon, trees shape ecosystems and sustain biodiversity. They prevent flooding by stabilising the soil, support pollinators by providing food and shelter, and create the conditions that allow other life to flourish. According to Woodland Trust, a single mature oak tree in the UK supports around 2,300 species, of which 326 species are entirely dependent on that tree species for survival. Yet despite their importance, the UK remains one of the least wooded countries in Europe. Large-scale deforestation and poor land management have resulted in the loss of critical habitats, leaving both wildlife and people vulnerable. 

Our Business of Biodiversity eBook highlights the urgency of this crisis. As noted in the report, around one million plant and animal species are now threatened with extinction due to human activity. Forests, peatlands and wetlands function as carbon stores and biodiversity hotspots, yet 420 million hectares of forest have been lost globally since 1990.  

What it means for business  

The loss of biodiversity and natural resources poses a direct risk to business. According to the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures (TNFD), more than £44 trillion of global economic value is moderately or highly dependent on nature. Every business relies on natural capital such as clean water, fertile soil, and stable ecosystems.  

When forests are cleared and ecosystems collapse, supply chains are disrupted, costs rise, and brand reputation suffers. Conversely, companies that take active steps to protect nature are more resilient, innovative, and attractive to stakeholders. Being nature positive is a key component of risk management and long-term value creation. 

At Wylde Connections, we help businesses understand these dependencies and integrate nature-based thinking into their decision making. Practical steps you can take to mark National Tree Week include:  

• Commit to the TNFD framework – Join the growing number of organisations aligning with the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures. This science-based framework helps companies identify, assess and disclose their nature-related risks and dependencies. It is a practical starting point for embedding biodiversity into financial and strategic planning. Visit – Register as a TNFD Adopter – TNFD 

• Protect and restore local green spaces – Support or partner with community initiatives that plant and maintain trees, create wildlife corridors or restore degraded land. Even small actions such as sponsoring local rewilding projects or volunteering with local tree-planting groups can make a measurable difference. 

• Integrate biodiversity into your operations – Create green spaces around your premises, develop roof gardens, or install wildlife-friendly features such as bird boxes and insect hotels. These not only benefit nature but also improve staff wellbeing. 

• Rethink procurement – Work with suppliers that follow responsible forestry and agricultural practices. Choose materials that are certified by standards such as FSC or PEFC and ensure full visibility into where resources originate. Responsible sourcing protects habitats and reduces your environmental footprint. 

• Reduce emissions and waste – Trees absorb carbon, but prevention is always better than cure. Lower your own carbon footprint by switching to renewable energy, reducing waste, and adopting circular economy principles. Supporting forest conservation and tree planting should complement, not replace, efforts to cut emissions at source. 

Building a nature-focused strategy  

The most effective way for businesses to make a lasting impact is through a comprehensive sustainability strategy. This involves assessing environmental impacts, engaging stakeholders, and integrating biodiversity goals across the organisation.  

At Wylde Connections, we guide businesses through this process using diagnostic tools, value chain mapping, and tailored strategy development. By embedding biodiversity into your overall sustainability plan, you can move beyond short-term initiatives and start taking regenerative actions with lasting impacts. 

During National Tree Week we invite businesses of all sizes to reflect on their relationship with the natural world. Book a Discovery Call to learn how Wylde Connections can help your organisation take the next steps. 

Follow this link for more information about National Tree Week – National Tree Week – join the UK’s largest tree celebration