Challenge 4: October - April 2009
What you need to do:
Change your World: Plant some trees!
For this challenge you need to arrange a community event to plant some trees to create new habitat for wildlife.
Why you need to do it:
• To create more woodland habitat for numerous plant and animal species.
• Trees and forests are crucial to life on our planet. They stabilise the soil, generate oxygen, store carbon, play host to a spectacular variety of wildlife and provide us with raw materials and shelter, which is why we need as many trees as possible.
• Access to woods near to where people live, in both urban and rural areas, brings other benefits, including; better health, more attractive landscapes, less pollution, soil stabilisation and flood alleviation.
• Ancient woodland, more than 400 hundred years old, covers only 2% of Great Britain, planting more trees as a buffer zone around it helps protect is from pesticides and development.
• Existing woodlands are under threat from climate change, modern development etc and it is important to create new ones to replace these.
• Woodland areas provide a place to play and have fun.
• Woodland absorbs harmful greenhouse gases.
How to do it
Form a project management group: 45minutes
You will need:
- Paper
- Pens
Decide within your group what roles people are going to take on and who is going to do what (You will probably need a fundraiser, event promoter, site liaison officer, tree guardian, health and safety officer, event co-ordinator).
Remember to have a minute taker to record notes of what is decided and share this with everyone after the meeting.
Find a suitable area to plant the trees: variable
You will need:
- Telephone and telephone directory
- Paper
- Pens
- Local maps
You will need to find an open space suitable for planting trees.
You may already have somewhere in mind to plant trees at your local campsite, someone’s garden or at your meeting place.
If you need to find somewhere new you may like to consider approaching local schools, residential homes, nature reserves, village halls and your local parish council.
Your local authority might be able to help too, speak to the tree officer in the Parks or Countryside Department for example. You may also have a local tree warden who could suggest a site. Details of all wardens are listed on the Tree Council Website
Trees can be planted most places but avoid anywhere with overhead power cables or underground services.
It is essential to discuss your plans with the person that owns the land before advertising it to the local community.
Design a planting scheme: 2 hours
Liaise with the site owner to decide what trees you would like to plant and where they will go. Remember the site may have a management plan you need to adhere to. There is advice here on what to consider when planting a tree here
There is information about suitable trees to plant here along with a link to the native tree shop where you can purchase young trees, here.
Find some trees: variable
You can apply for a hedge and copse pack from the Woodland Trust which will provide approximately 30 trees, from here.
or you could apply for a community grant of £100 from the Woodland Trust to facilitate your event from here.
Or the Tree Council also provide grants (for events run in National Tree Week (26th Nov – 7th Dec) so you may like to look at their website .
If you still need more trees you could approach your local garden centre or speak to the landowner to see if they would help fund them.
Produce a poster to promote your event: 60 minutes
You will need:
- Paper
- Pens
- Download the Tree For All poster template available here
Use the poster template or design one of your own to advertise the event. Remember to include times, dates, what people need to bring, what you are doing and any other relevant information.
Don’t forget to register your event on the Tree For All website, although remember if it is not a public event, to mark the event ‘private’ on the registration form
Arrange refreshments: 60 minutes
You will need:
- Paper
- Pens
- Telephone and telephone directory
You may like to consider arranging refreshments for your hard working tree planters. You could approach local businesses or supermarkets to see if they may be willing to sponsor your event or provide the refreshments. Local WI groups may be able to help or you may decide to do it yourself.
Learn how to plant trees: 60 minutes
Download this tree planting guide and learn how to plant trees! Remember to share the information with all of your group, consider running a training session so that everyone is up to speed.
Invite the press along: 60 minutes
Find a sample press release on the Changing the World website and invite the press along for the day. Don’t forget to take some photos to let us know how you got on.
Other things to consider: variable
- Where will you get the spades – it may be worth asking people to bring their own.
- What will you do if it rains – most events can still go ahead but you may like to encourage people to bring wet weather gear.
- You may need to recruit additional helpers for the day.
- Make sure you follow the guiding manual and safety procedures.
- Remember to do an introductory talk at the beginning of the day, giving a demonstration to participants and explaining why it is important to plant trees and create new woodland.
Trees love care: ongoing
Don’t forget that your trees will need some maintenance each year. Information on what to do here.
Could the trees you have planted be adopted by your group to look after and to help them grow.
