Trees for a Greener City
Calor Gas’s Start from the Heart initiative gave a boost to the Family Tree Field in Central Park in July. Staff came on two days to weed around and water young trees which had been struggling in the hot, dry weather. They also helped to restore one of the Devon hedge banks and to lay a new gravel surface at the field’s main entrance – a wonderful achievement. Everyone had a good time and Calor Gas have asked to come back again in September!
From 28 March 2018 we’ll be based at Plymouth’s First Environment Learning Hub at Poole Farm, Derriford Community Park. The address is: Plymouth Tree Partnership, Poole Farm, Leigham, Plymouth, PL6 8NF. The nearest bus stop is about 100 yards away and there is plenty of parking close by. Volunteers will continue to pick up messages every few days so stay in touch and find time to visit when you can.
Plymouth Tree Partnership was at the annual Awards Ceremony as one of the nominations for Community Group of the Year. Congratulations to the Drake Foundation who won the category but it is great to know how much our work as a community group has been appreciated.
Tree of the Year 2017
The Gilwell Oak in Epping Forest with its associations to the Scouting Movement won the most votes. Our nomination – the Plymouth Pear on Morlaix Drive – was a runner-up and we have a certificate to show for it. Many thanks to everyone who gave this rare and special tree their support.
Our tree – the Plymouth Pear on Morlaix Drive – has made it to the final so it’s time to vote and to ask your contacts at home and work to do the same! The tree with the most votes will be this year’s Tree of the Year and win £1,000. The voting link is here: http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/visiting-woods/tree-of-the-year/england/
The very rare Plymouth Pear tree on Morlaix Drive has been entered in this year’s Tree of the Year competition. If it makes the shortlist, it will be put to the public vote in September. Do you have any heart-warming stories about this tree which could help make it the nation’s favourite? Let us know!
Thanks to support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, we have been able to run three corporate volunteering days in the Family Tree Field. Jurys Inn planted trees and bluebells in November and staff from Unite Students cleared an overgrown boundary hedge in February. The final day next month will see trees labelled with their names.
Plymouth Tree Partnership hosted this year’s regional Tree Warden forum at Saltram House on 5th November. Speakers developed the theme ‘Changing Views of Trees: For Fun, For Food and For the Future’. This was followed by a guided walk through the grounds to get a first-hand appreciation of the challenges involved and possible roles for volunteer Tree Wardens.
A Tree Summit held 26th July brought together a mix of tree and landscape professionals, committee members from community groups including Plymouth Tree Partnership and academic staff from Plymouth University. It was the first step towards producing a Plan for Trees which will find ways to improve the quality and extent of Plymouth’s urban tree cover.
Plymouth Tree Partnership members and volunteers were guests of the Friends of Devonport Park when we held our Annual General Meeting in the park’s pavilion on 8th June. Afterwards, the Friends Group led a walk around the park to admire its fine trees and views; it was a lovely evening!