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Do Yourself a Favor, Hug a Tree!

Many residents of Lincolnshire were drawn to the Village because of its beautiful mature trees. In fact, a village-wide survey, conducted in 1997, showed that trees were the number one reason that people chose to live in Lincolnshire. Though it may be a common consensus that trees are a valuable part of this community, most of us are too busy with our everyday lives to give much thought as to why trees are so important.

Trees and other landscape plants provide numerous benefits to people living in urban areas. Plants of the Urban Forest help to clean our air and water of harmful pollutants. They also reduce noise and light pollution in our neighborhoods, and lower energy consumption by shading out the hot summer sun and intercepting frigid winter winds.

Of all the benefits that trees provide to people, perhaps most amazing are the positive effects trees seem to have on our mental and physical health. Studies have shown that surgery patients who could see trees and plants from their windows had shorter hospital stays, required less medication, and had fewer postoperative complications compared to patients whose windows looked out upon buildings and pavement. It has also been reported that hospitalized psychiatric patients actually respond better and communicate more when they are exposed to views of nature.

Many businesses and industries are now attempting to harness the positive power of plant life by constructing buildings and landscapes that put their workers and clients in touch with nature. The results have been promising. There is mounting evidence that providing work environments which include plants and natural views result in higher worker productivity, lower absenteeism, and easier recruitment of highly skilled workers.

It is still unclear why the presence of trees and other plants has such a favorable affect on the mental and physical health of humans. However, considering many of our healthiest foods, and most important medications come from plants, the healing potential of these fascinating life forms should not be underestimated.

Remember, if you have any questions about trees or Lincolnshire's natural environment, please feel free to contact Tony Gliot, the Village Forester, at 847-883-8600.