Residents across Bath are being invited to join a new tree-growing scheme launched by not-for-profit community group More Trees for BANES.
Photo courtesy of More Trees for BANES
Growing trees is just one of the ways that residents can help the environment, and B&NES Council has committed to planting 100,000 as part of its Climate Action Plan.
While many may be familiar with large-scale tree nurseries, More Trees for BANES sees the potential for micro-nurseries in people’s gardens or balconies.
The idea involves many people growing on a few native trees from seed or cuttings in their own micro-nurseries, which can result in a lot of saplings for planting out at local sites after a couple of years.
The aim of the scheme is eventually to have a constant supply of locally-grown saplings.
The group is partnering with Prior Park Garden Centre, which is providing space for sapling donations on a number of weekends during the tree-planting season.
Local gardeners who already have unwanted self-seeded native tree saplings (with the exception of Ash, Horse Chestnut and Sycamore) which are approximately 1m tall, or 2 years old, can now donate them, labelled and in a pot, to More Trees.
Donation weekends are being held at Prior Park Garden Centre on 27th – 30th November, 11th – 14th December, 22nd – 25th January, 12th – 15th February and 5th – 8th Match.
Saplings donated will be planted out at local sites.
The scheme is already being embraced by some schools where pupils are getting hands-on with tree-growing.
Jon Parsonage, of Outdoor Adventures Bath, is a forest school leader and outdoor educator who has been collaborating with local schools to help get the project off the ground.
He said: “The children, that I’ve been working with have shown a real enthusiasm for the project. I think that part of the reason for this is because they can see how important trees are for our environment, both locally and globally.
“Watching a tree grow from a seed that you’ve collected yourself is a truly wonderful experience.”
Jon has been working with Oldfield Park Junior School, Combe Down Primary and Oldfield Park Pre-School in Bath and Fosseway School in Radstock.
Jo Bird, Deputy Head at Combe Down Primary, said: “The children have already gained so much in taking part in the micro-nursery project and as a school, we’re really looking forward to improving our grounds and local area.”
For more information, visit www.moretrees.earth or email [email protected].
