Tree growing is quietly gathering momentum in the UK, with research suggesting that trees grown from local seed have a better chance of adapting to local conditions and preventing the spread of imported pests and disease. The Tree Council’s new programme ‘Growing Together’ is working to empower community groups with tree growing knowledge and skill whilst doubling the number and capacity of community tree nurseries across the country.
Recently, Growing Together inspired thirty-five new community groups to get tree nurseries off the ground (literally), setting up new spaces for hundreds of trees to be nurtured and cared for. We rarely see the people behind this work, and often it is down to one or two amazing and tireless individuals that keep it all going.
Let us introduce you to a few of them…
Tanya Lee, The Old Rose Garden, Manchester
“It’s a space that holds so much potential, it’s got a long history, residents around the area remember being invited to weddings in the garden!”
The “Old Rose Garden” in North Manchester is a historic, now largely neglected, rose garden area within Boggart Hole Clough – a historic 19th century woodland park. Soon, it will be home to around fifty new apple trees. After redundancy, Tanya took some time out and studied for a horticulture course at the RHS. It was then that she started to look for some land nearby and came across the Old Rose Garden. She is part a small team of volunteers who are dedicated to restoring it to its former status as a thriving garden space and tree nursery for their local community.
Liz McCreery, Friends of South Park, Merseyside
“Trees aren’t just ”there or not there”, we can actually grow them! And by doing so, we provide food for the community and a new wildlife habitat”
Liz McCreery helps run Friends of South Park, a grassroots community group based in Bootle, Merseyside – one of the most socially and economically deprived parts of the country situated next to the docklands in an area of high air pollution. Previously a bowling green, the Friends team, supported by Sefton Council, have spent the last three years clearing the space, growing vegetables and engaging schools and volunteers – many of whom use it as a space to restore mental wellbeing. Over the next few months, they will be growing a variety of pear and apple trees which in time will provide food as well as educational opportunities for their local community.
Matt Knight, Shinfield St Mary’s School, Reading
“Children respond really well to being outdoors, it’s good to get them out of the classroom. By having a go at hands on skills, they also learn that there are more vocations than what you think of as ‘regular jobs’.”
Matt is Head of Sustainability and Ecology at Shinfield St Mary’s CE Junior School near Reading in Berkshire, where he has implemented many ambitious projects including introducing a Japanese inspired ‘Miyawaki’ hedge and introduced air pruning tree tables. He also co-founded his own fruit tree charity, Freely Fruity, in 2020. The school has a thriving tree nursery with 300 saplings and has generously planted 450 trees to date into the local community. As part of Growing Together, Shinfield School will be acting as a community tree nursery “Hub” – providing inspiration and training for other schools to start their own tree nurseries.
Alice Holden, Dagenham Farm, London
“A few years ago we experienced 40 degree heat in London, and there were fires across the capital. I was suddenly aware of where had trees and where had shade. I hope that we can now raise hundreds of young trees ourselves to distribute across the borough.”
Alice runs a thriving organic market garden at Growing Communities Dagenham Farm in East London, a warm, welcoming community with a group of dedicated volunteers. The farm is an example of peri-urban produce growing five tonnes of veg – leafy greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, beans, chillies and more – every year which they sell wholesale to local restaurants or through a fruit and veg bag scheme. In amongst the vegetables, maximising their existing space will be hundreds of trees including a fruit orchard, hedgerows and willow trees.
Alice, Matt, Liz and Tanya are four volunteers who are learning the art of growing trees and building a community tree nursery. Interested in joining them? Get in touch with us growingtogether@treecouncil.org.uk or take a look at Growing Together for more information.
