Trees are a vital source of life for every creature on Earth: they manage the water cycle, create rain and produce water vapour, store water for human use and help in flood prevention, store carbon and other nutrients, are home to many dependent species, provide livelihoods for many human communities, and are wonderful places to visit and enjoy. Roger Crofts celebrates the role of trees in our lives, and considers how to ensure that we have well-maintained trees, woods and forests, with more trees of the most appropriate species in the right places, and managed over centuries.