West Worcestershire MP Harriett Baldwin has urged home owners to plant trees in their gardens to help the long-term plan to improve our environment. The call follows the unveiling of the Government’s national plan to improve the environment and the quality of our air. Earlier this year, Harriett announced her own plans to plant trees which for part of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy which is a worldwide initiative to improve the environment and help to combat global climate change. The Government has committed to support the planting of 11 million new trees in the five years to 2022 as part of the 25 year plan for the environment. The Forestry Commission recently reported that just over 2 million trees were planted last year. And the MP urged homeowners to plant trees in their gardens if possible to help offset carbon emissions. In June, the Government passed legislation which commits the UK to bring all greenhouse gas emission to net-zero by 2050. Harriett said: “My own efforts will start off with planting trees as part of the Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy initiative – the saplings are growing nicely outside my office in Malvern Hills Science Park and I plan to plant them out in their permanent home in the autumn. “We are lucky to live in a beautiful rural area where there are natural woodlands but every extra tree will make a difference so I’d encourage people to plant trees where possible and offset their own carbon footprint. “This Government intends to be a global leader on this issue and although it needs similar pledges from other leading world economies, I am proud that the UK is committed to be the first generation to leave our natural environment in a better state than we found it.”