Graham Campbell, chair of the Great Ouse Valley Trust, suggests planting a tree would be a good new year's resolution.

The Great Ouse Valley Trust is looking at every opportunity to increase the tree cover in the valley - planting new woodland, small copses as well as individual trees.

Cambridgeshire has the least tree cover of any English county so there is plenty do.

A tree can expect to absorb one whole tonne of carbon dioxide in its lifetime.

Every tree we plant helps to combat climate change, increase biodiversity, reduce flooding, absorb excess farm nutrients and, most importantly, enhance our landscape.

Even in your garden, planting a tree is one of the most rewarding things you can do. 

The job is simple but it needs to be done properly. The first few years are critical. It is at this time that the long-term health of the tree is largely determined. Lack of water in the early years is the biggest cause of failure.

A standard tree may be around two to three metres high. If it’s in a pot it can be planted at any time of the year. However, November through to March are the most suitable months.

You’ll need a good spade, two 50 mm diameter stakes and two buckled straps. Or you can use old bicycle tubes or hessian that can be fixed to the posts with a staple gun.

Dig a hole that’s bigger than the pot or the roots. Unless the ground is extremely heavy clay it shouldn’t be necessary to add any compost.

However, you can add some mycorrhizal rooting enhancer to give the tree a good start.

Hammer the two stakes in, attach the straps to the tree and the job is done. Water well and then carry on watering in the first two spring and summers. A good bucket-full twice a week is ideal.

We all love the Great Ouse Valley landscape. Let’s make it even better and get planting trees now for our children and grandchildren to enjoy.

Visit www.greatousevalleytrust.org.uk.