Trees are one of nature’s most powerful tools in the fight against climate change. They absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere and store it, helping to reduce the overall amount of greenhouse gases we produce.
That’s why we’ve given each of our trees an A to E environmental rating, based on how much carbon they can store during their lifetime. You’ll also find a carbon calculator on our website, which lets you compare how much CO₂ you produce with how many trees you’d need to plant to help offset it.
Take the much maligned Sycamore for example. Regarded by many as a weed, it is one of the best trees for carbon capture and ranks as an ‘A rater’ in our table. We have modelled data in partnership with Treeconomics in Exeter and have used measurements from thousands of trees using a tool called ‘I Tree’.
You can find these tags while you are viewing a specific tree, just scroll through the photos on the main image window to find its carbon rating score. Here is an example of one of our product tags below:
It’s Not Just About Carbon
While carbon storage is important, picking the right tree for the right place is just as vital. A tree planted in the wrong location may never reach its full environmental potential.
Take the Giant Redwood (Sequoiadendron giganteum), for instance. You might have seen adverts suggesting it’s the ultimate tree for carbon offsetting—and in some ways, that’s true. It stores a massive amount of carbon and can live for over 3,000 years.
But let’s be honest—it’s not going to thrive in most UK gardens. If it outgrows its space or struggles to survive, it won’t help the environment as much as a well-suited native or ornamental tree that matures naturally.
Wildlife and Biodiversity
Giant Redwoods are impressive, but they don’t support much of our local wildlife. Birds, insects, and fungi depend on a diverse mix of trees to feed, nest, and forage throughout the year. That’s why we always encourage planting a variety of species.
Monocultures (where everyone plants the same type of tree) can lead to big problems when pests or diseases strike—think Dutch Elm Disease, Ash Dieback, or the Oak Processionary Moth. Diversity makes woodlands and gardens more resilient.
Choosing the Best Tree for You—and the Planet
So, once you’ve found a good mix of trees that suit your space, soil, and climate, you can use our environmental ratings to pick the best-performing species for carbon storage too.
Every tree helps. By locking carbon into their trunks, branches, and roots, trees play a quiet but vital role in reversing some of the damage caused by human activity.