Tree planting project gets thousands of trees into the ground
Published: 1 December 2022
Thousands of native trees will be distributed and planted across Devon this season thanks to Devon’s Wildlife Trust’s Saving Devon’s Treescapes, Working Wetlands and Avon Valley Projects.
Exeter City Council works closely with Saving Devon’s Treescapes to identify places in the city where its tree canopy cover can be improved. Only last week, 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.
Saving Devon’s Treescapes works closely with communities and landowners, helping restore hedgerows, create new habitats and strengthen Devon’s treescapes in the face of ash dieback disease.
Provided by the Woodland Trust, the trees planted across Exeter and Devon will also help store carbon, reduce sediment run-off, improve water quality and reduce flood risk, a win-win for people and wildlife.
This week is National Tree Week and those who feel passionately about trees can take part in two community planting events in Exeter this month.
The events are taking place near Exeter Quay on Tuesday 13 December – one at 10am and the other at 1pm – both 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.
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 National Tree Week - join the UK's largest tree celebration (treecouncil.org.uk)