When I was at school there was a
scheme called Plant A Tree in ‘ 73, from what I can gather it was started to
help combat the ravages caused by the spread of Dutch Elm Disease in Britain. Through my school I bought a Silver
Birch but I can’t remember if I had an actual tree to plant, or just paid money
to have the tree planted in a new wood. I do remember feeling that there was
something special about planting trees. The campaign was the genesis
of The Tree Council. There were a wide variety of stamps and First Day Covers
I have also just discovered that
the Silver Birch has a relatively short life span so I’m not sure if my tree
survived but there is a beauty in the graveyard behind my parents’ house that
gives great pleasure to the viewer in all seasons, in fact they have a lovely assortment of mature trees just over the fence. Through the Woodland Trust I had
three oak trees planted in a wood near Daventry in memory of a former partner,
a man who loved life and lost it too soon. I’m sure he would have liked the
notion of living on as a strong oak with a whole forest for company.
Now, with a reasonable sized
garden, I’m happy to say that I have followed the advice given to characters in the story “Big Man” by Kathy Page and have planted fruit trees, although I
haven’t danced round them. I have two apple trees, two plum trees, a fig tree
and a cherry tree, one day I’d love a small orchard but my small collection of fruit trees will have to do for now!
To celebrate
the anniversary of Queen Elizabeth ll's 2012 Diamond Jubilee, the
Woodland Trust is helping millions of people across the UK to come
together to plant 6 million trees. I love the idea of planting trees
and as a member of Beanfield Artists I made an application for a
community tree planting pack. Just before Christmas I discovered that I had
been awarded a pack of 105 All Year Colour trees to plant but the Woodland Trust needed to know where they were going to be planted.
The news came on the day I was
talking to Rosalind Stoddart, who was planning to plant trees along the new
boundary line of her new field situated behind her house. Ros has generously
donated an area in her new field as the site to plant the trees and I'm overjoyed to know that these trees have found a home where they will be enjoyed by the community.
Ros is passionate about the arts,
trees and the environment, if you are an artist or creative practitioner coming
to help with the planting, Ros is keen to hear your ideas for events /
activities that could take place on the field in the months to come.
There seems to be a deep
connection between people and trees, BBC Radio Northampton was quick to pick up
the story and during the early part of a frost sprinkled morning their roving
reporter came to talk to us about the Jubilee Woods tree planting day which
will take place on February 18th. Since then we have been delighted with the
response to our request for volunteer tree planters willing to come and create
this new Jubilee Wood.
You can find out more about Rosalind Stoddart FRSA Independent Cultural Engineer and the exciting projects she is currently undertaking here and I know she has many exciting plans, events and workshops in the pipeline!
Shortly after the broadcast I received a
call from the wonderful Ann Leonard asking if we had given any thought to protecting the trees from the wildlife! I told her we had thought about it but had no funds for the project. She said in a mysterious tone 'let me think about it and get back to you." The next day she rang again to say that she would donate part of the costs and her colleagues at AES Europe a local company, based in Corby, but with
very strong business links to Brigstock, would match her donation.
The company has a commitment to encouraging lake and pond owners and managers to establish native plant species both in the water and on the surrounding margins. They grow their own plants from carefully collected UK seed at a private nursery in Brigstock. Both Ann and AES Europe are very happy to support the Jubilee Tree Planting event and the Woodland Trust in this venture and are supplying the supports and protective mesh for the young trees. You can find out more about AES Europe here. I must give a huge hug of thanks to Ros and AES Europe Proprietor - Mr Robert Cockroft, Operations Manager - Mr Anthony McKenna and Nursery Manager - Ms Ann Leonard for helping to create this new area of woodland!
