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To help celebrate National Tree Week, Ö÷²¥´óÐã Learning has teamed up with Guinness World Records for Tree O'Clock – a nationwide challenge to plant as many trees as possible within a single hour, uniting the nation in an event which will provide a lasting legacy and an amazing learning opportunity for all ages.

At 11.00am on Saturday 5 December everyone is invited to join in and "do one thing" for nature by simply planting a tree and, in doing so, learn the benefits of planting the right tree in the right place.

In a recent survey for The Woodland Trust, 86% of people asked said they would like to see more trees being planted in their local area. And over 70% said if they had a wood within walking distance it would encourage them to exercise.

Liz Cleaver, Controller of Ö÷²¥´óÐã Learning, says: "We're all keeping our fingers crossed that we set a new World Record. But, whatever the outcome, I'm delighted that so many people are planning to get stuck in and plant trees, many for the first time. This event will leave a real lasting legacy for local communities across the country as well as furthering peoples' understanding of wildlife and trees.

"The Ö÷²¥´óÐã has decided to provide a limited number of free trees to ensure there is an opportunity for as many members of the public to participate at home as possible."

Tree O'Clock is part of National Tree Week, the UK's largest celebration of trees and woods. Organised by the Tree Council, the week also raises awareness of the importance of trees to the environment and seeks to involve as many people as possible in planting, caring for and enjoying trees and woods. The Ö÷²¥´óÐã is also celebrating five years of inspirational work, encouraging people to do one thing for nature and the environment through its Breathing Places campaign for Ö÷²¥´óÐã Learning.

Autumnwatch presenter Chris Packham says: "Want to branch out and do something for nature. Join me and plant a tree for Tree O'Clock and you could "leaf" a real legacy. Trees are really important for wildlife as all kinds of animals live in and around them, and they also make our environment better for everyone. So get stuck in and plant a tree!"

In addition to encouraging everyone to get out and plant a tree in a bid to beat the overall World Record (currently held by the Philippines), the spotlight will also be firmly on three teams who are competing to secure the Guinness World Record for the most number of trees planted within one hour in a single location. Their challenge is to plant more than 18,124 trees in the space of just one hour. The record is held in Aberdeenshire.

Three teams are making the attempt: Heartwood Forest, near St Albans, the team includes Harpenden and St Albans Air Cadets and two teams of Hertfordshire mixed Explorer Scout Groups. In Hainault Forest, Chigwell, three teams of Essex and North London Explorer Scouts and members of Give Love Find Love are among the team; and finally in Northern Ireland conservation volunteers, including firemen, foresters and athletes are going for the record in Gransha Park, Londonderry.

Model and fashion icon Twiggy says: "Tree O'Clock is an amazing opportunity for one nation to seize one hour, one moment, and to set a new record by everyone just planting one tree. Come on, get involved!"

Winter is the best time for planting trees. Tree O'Clock wants as many families, schools, workplaces and community groups as possible to muck in. Trees can help increase biodiversity and provide people with a better quality of life. People can plant a native tree, hedge or fruit tree in their garden and everyone's tree planting can count towards the attempt at the World Record. Or they can join in one of the many locally organised tree planting events.

A limited number of tree saplings/whips will be available free to members of the public wishing to join in on a first come first served basis – one per household.

Details of how to claim a free tree from a local participating garden centre or local authority tree give-away scheme, as well as how to take part, can all be found on the Tree O'Clock website, simply visit bbc.co.uk/treeoclock.

Everyone's tree counts if a few simple steps are followed. People need to take a digital photo of themselves planting their sapling between 11.00am-12noon on 5 December. Then simply email it to breathingplacestrees@bbc.co.uk, stating which type of native tree it is and giving their full postal address, by the deadline of 12noon on Friday 11 December so that it can count towards the record. (Independent verification is required for plantings of more than five trees, which simply means you need to have someone with you who can sign a piece of paper to say that you did it! Go to the Breathing Places website for full details.)

Tree planters should check that the tree they are planting is appropriate for the place they choose to plant. More information about planting the right tree in the right place and how to ensure that the new tree is cared for, plus lots more information on tree planting from our campaign partners, is available on the website.

The record for the most trees planted in one location in one hour is currently held by a team of school children; the Forestry Commission Scotland, and BP staff, and stands at 18,124. And the World Record for the most trees planted in multiple sites in one hour is currently 653,143 and is held in the Philippines.

So everyone should grab their wellies, roll up their sleeves and be part of an amazing opportunity to increase the number of trees in the UK.

Notes to Editors

Ö÷²¥´óÐã Breathing Places is working with over 11,000 registered Breathing Place schools. A range of curriculum based resources have been provided each term for teachers to use as part of work they might choose to deliver in and out of the classroom. Autumn term resources were themed around Trees.

A free Rowan tree was offered to registered schools as part of this term's "Do One Thing" activity The resources are downloadable from the Breathing Places website. The free Rowan tree offer was taken up by just over 2,500 schools. Schools were encouraged to plant their Rowan tree as part of a school Tree day – on 10 November. Many schools used this focus to raise awareness and understanding of trees and inspire pupils to take part in further tree planting at home or as part of the mass planting event planned for Tree O'Clock.

Ö÷²¥´óÐã Breathing Places is working in partnership with a wide range of wildlife and conservation organisations and local authorities across the UK in order to make Tree O'Clock happen. The aim is to encourage mass public participation in this learning opportunity and is part of Ö÷²¥´óÐã Learning's remit to deliver campaigns which build public value and reach new audiences.

Tree O'Clock is part of National Tree Week organised by The Tree Council.

A limited number of free tree saplings/whips will be provided by the Ö÷²¥´óÐã on a first come first served basis to individuals who want to join in setting a new record.

These will be available from Saturday 21 November from selected garden centres which are members of the Horticultural Trades Association, as well as other environment retail outlets such as Forestry Commission visitor centres. One free tree will be available per household while stocks last. Outlets participating in the free tree give-away will be listed on the Breathing Places website. Terms and conditions apply to all the give-aways including local authority schemes and give-aways at retail outlets.

Verification of a World Record

Ö÷²¥´óÐã Learning has agreed with Guinness World Records a variety of criteria to be applied to different situations where trees are being planted in order that they count towards any world record attempt. The criteria vary depending on how many trees are being planted at any one time in one location. There are different requirements for those planting one tree compared to those planting over one hundred trees, to those planting thousands of trees. The full guidelines are available on the Breathing Places website.

Those sites aiming to plant enough trees to break the record for the most number of trees planted on a single site will have a Guinness World Records adjudicator present for the world record attempt. We expect to be able to announce whether this record has been broken by early afternoon on 5 December.

If we are really lucky there is an outside chance that we could get close to the World Record for the most trees planted in multiple sites in one hour. The record is currently 653,143 and is held in the Philippines. Guinness World Records have asked that they have access to and can inspect the records sent by those participating in the record attempt from noon on Friday 11 December. We hope to be able to announce whether we have come close to breaking this world record later on that day.

About Ö÷²¥´óÐã Learning

The Ö÷²¥´óÐã is committed to education and personal development. Ö÷²¥´óÐã Breathing Places is one of the many unique and varied offerings from Ö÷²¥´óÐã Learning. For more information on all the learning programmes offered for adults, teachers, parents and students, visit bbc.co.uk/learning.

Ö÷²¥´óÐã Learning also delivers campaigns that aim to inspire and empower individuals to take action – action that changes their lives, benefits communities and helps to transform society.

About Ö÷²¥´óÐã Breathing Places

Tree O'Clock is part of Ö÷²¥´óÐã Breathing Places, a five-year campaign to encourage all of us to get outside and make space for nature. Developed in partnership with a huge range of wildlife and conservation organisations, the campaign encourages new audiences to get involved in doing one thing for nature, while providing opportunities for Breathing Places to be created across the UK. Already millions of people have been inspired to do one thing for nature.

£9.5m from the Big Lottery Fund has been invested in creating new breathing places. Over 10 thousand schools have signed up to BP School, and nearly 10,000 breathing places are registered on the Event Finder.

bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces provides details on how to do one thing for nature where you live, from putting up a bird feeder to creating a breathing place. The public can also search around 10,000 breathing places on the Breathing Places Event Finder to locate nature friendly places and events near them.

A breathing place is great for both wildlife and people. It has an active community of people creating, enjoying and maintaining it.

Research data is provided by The Woodland Trust from a recent opinion poll survey commissioned by them and conducted by Glide Insight. This was an on-line survey of 1,012 people.

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