Community group all set for park tree planting

Published: 20 January 2022

Green fingered locals in Exeter are making a difference to their neighbourhood park by planting and maintaining trees for everyone to enjoy.

Community group Cowick Roots & Recreation are so passionate about greening up their local parks, they applied for and successfully won a grant from the Tree Council to plant more trees.

Two standard sized trees will be planted at Cowick Barton Playing Fields on Friday (21 January) and the group will be holding a Community Orchard event the following day on Saturday 22 January, where they will be asking locals to get involved and get their hands dirty.

The event is being organised in partnership with Devon Wildlife Trust and there will be a free pruning, weeding and mulching workshop from 11am until 12:30pm and a chance to help mulch the veteran oak tree near the tennis courts.

Exeter City Council is supporting the tree planting and community events by providing tools, woodchip for mulching and the collection of green waste once the works are complete.

Sue Taylor of Cowick Roots & Recreation, said: “We’re looking forward to the events and seeing as many local people as possible. We’ve already got local school children getting involved on the day.”

Cowick Roots & Recreation is a volunteer group formed by local residents who hope to act as ‘The People’s Champion’ in order to improve and protect both green spaces as a playing field, sports facility, community space and community gardens.

The £1,408 grant from the Tree Council will cover the cost of planting and maintaining the trees over their first two years and includes the cost of heavy metal tree guards. 

Cllr David Harvey, Lead Councillor for City Management, said: “It’s wonderful to see local people investing their time and energy in parks on their doorstep. Cowick Roots & Recreation have really taken the initiative and got the local community involved in caring for the environment, and that’s fantastic to see.”

People wanting to get involved in Saturday’s Community Orchard Event can contact Cowick Roots and Recreation by emailing cowickrootsandrecreation@gmail.com   or via the group’s Facebook page Cowick Roots & Recreation | Facebook