Help plant more trees in Exeter at community planting events
Published: 28 November 2022
It’s National Tree Week and those who feel passionately about trees are being encouraged to take part in two community planting events in Exeter next month.
The events are taking place down at Exeter Quay on Tuesday 13 December – one at 10am and the other at 1pm – and are being organised by Saving Devon’s Treescapes.
Saving Devon’s Treescapes will be planting 450 trees at New Haven Field, next to the allotments, working on the day with staff from Exeter City Council.
Saving Devons Treescapes is a Devon Wildlife Trust Initiative and works hard to mitigate the effect that Ash Dieback disease is having on the county’s trees. The disease is estimated to kill at least 90% of Devon’s ash trees in the coming years.
Devon's treescapes are stunning and crucial habitats for so much wildlife and that’s why it’s so important to take action and for people to get involved. The initiative is working with communities and landowners to plant copses and hedgerows across Devon to replace some of the trees that are taken by the disease.
Only last week, it was announced that Exeter is leading the way in city centre green spaces and tree canopy cover. A report from the University of Sheffield ranked Exeter as the number one city for green spaces and trees in its city centre, ahead of 67 other UK cities.
Those attending the event on 13 December will be given a demonstration and support throughout the day, so don’t need to worry if they have never planted a tree before.
The trees will all be UK grown broadleaf species which are two to three years old and around 20-60cm in height.
Boots or wellies are recommended, and those attending should bring warm and waterproof clothing and a bottle of water. Please note, there are no toilets on site.
To reserve a spot on the 10am morning session go to the Eventbrite website at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tree-planting-morning-session-exeter-quay-tickets-461684650217
To reserve a spot on the 1pm afternoon session go to the Eventbrite website at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/tree-planting-afternoon-session-exeter-quay-tickets-461747758977
Please be aware that if the ground is waterlogged or frozen, organisers may need to postpone the event.
Saving Devon's Treescapes is led by Devon Wildlife Trust on behalf of the Devon Ash Dieback Resilience Forum. It's a partnership project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund as well as other funders. Read more about the project and find other ways to get involved on the Devon Wildlife Trust website https://www.devonwildlifetrust.org/what-we-do/our-projects/saving-devons-treescapes
National Tree Week is the UK’s largest annual tree celebration, marking the start of the winter tree planting season (November to March each year). This year it takes place from Sunday 27 November to Monday 5 December. Further information about national events can be found on the Tree Council website nationaltoday.com/national-tree-week/