As a responsible business, we like to do our bit for the environment and Manchester.

Unfortunately, as much as electronic communication has become a fixture of our everyday working lives, much of the legal profession still runs on paper documents.

Thirty years ago we were still making carbon copies. It makes you shudder to think how much paper we’ve gone through in the intervening years.

And the photocopier still flashes into life more times than we’d like every day.

That’s why we’re big fans of charities such as City of Trees. And, in National Tree Week, we wanted to highlight the work to help re-green our cities, towns and rural areas.

City of Trees aim is to reinvigorate Greater Manchester’s landscape. It wants to restore underused woodland and plant a tree for every man, woman and child living in the city region within a generation.

Manchester Town Hall and surrounding trees

More than 50% of the world’s population lives in urban areas. This percentage is expected to increase to 70% by 2050.

This means that trees and woods now play an ever-more important role in our cities and towns – and we paper-users can get behind supporting charities.

The charity says they ‘create healthier, happier communities, tackle climate change, reconnect our children to the natural world, and provide essential habitats for wildlife.’

‘Trees and woods ensure our urban areas are economically, socially and environmentally more sustainable and resilient. The arguments for trees are clear, and the best time to act is now.’

You can join us in supporting City of Trees’ work by donating £10 online. Alternatively, text ROOT10 £10 to 70070 to help a new tree take root.

National Tree Week

The week runs until Sunday December 2, marking the start of the winter tree planting season (November to March).

It’s a chance for communities to do something positive for their local treescape. It inspires upward of 250,000 people to get their hands dirty and get planting.

There are events going on across the country to show active support for National Tree Week.

In London, 15,000 volunteers aim to plant 80,000 trees in one weekend to help it become the world’s first ‘national park city’. The ‘plant-a-thon’ this weekend includes 30 events across the city.

Mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged £5m in grants for community tree planting as part of his £12m Greener City Fund.

In Cumbria, the BIG Eden Tree Plant project to add 10,000 trees, got off to a great start with 40 enthusiastic volunteers at Dockray. Eden Rivers Trust is working with The Woodland Trust, Natural England, Lowther Forestry and the Forestry Commission to make the BIG Eden tree plant happen.

The next sessions are Saturday December 1 and 8 at Thrimby near Little Strickland. Volunteers can sign up via the Eden Rivers Trust Facebook page or at www.edenriverstrust.org.uk

In Greater Manchester, there’s a Tree Party between 10am and 3pm on Saturday December 1 at Crompton Moor, Buckstones Road, Shaw, Oldham. All tools and equipment provided.

(*) A donation from Merrick Life is on its way to City of Trees. Keep up the great work!