Most of the environmental news these days is pretty bleak, with soaring carbon rates and predictions of hotter temperatures.  But there are plans to deal with Global Warming, no matter how modest.

UK Environmental Secretary Michael Gove this weekend is expected to announce a scheme to plant 130,000 trees in England via grants available through the Urban Tree Challenge Fund.

Trees play a vital role in stemming of climate change:  They absorb and store carbon, sending it deep into the ground through the roots.  Trees also deaden urban noise, mitigate flooding, and provide shade in summer.  

"We need trees lining our streets, not only to green and shade them but to ensure we remain connected to the wonders of the natural world, which is why we must go further and faster to increase planting rates," said Gove.

Thousands have signed a petition to go way beyond this, and restore a quarter of the UK to its wild, natural state.  The group Rewilding Britain wants to redirect billions of dollars in farm subsidies to native woodlands and meadows and protecting peat bogs and salt marshes.  Farmers wouldn't necessarily lose the money, as they'd be doing much of the work and could be paid to do it on their lands.

Two million hectares of new woodland and two million hectares of natural meadows with a wide variety of grasses and other plants would absorb ten percent of the UK current carbon output, making a significant contribution to getting the country's carbon emissions to neutral by 2050.