Planting 6,700 trees with the help of community groups
Local community groups, schools and colleges joined forces to help plant 3,400 trees at Westonbirt, The National Arboretum this November to April to reach a total of 6,700 since last year.
As part of the Silk Wood Community Planting Project, this winter’s planting saw over 900 people from 40 groups spend 140 hours digging, planting and protecting the mix of mostly native trees, so far helping to restore 3 hectares of ancient woodland devastated by ash dieback (a fungal disease that kills ash trees).
They included individuals from 13 schools, 1 university, 12 youth groups and 14 other groups based in and around Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and Bristol. The project is specifically engaging with young people, people from disadvantaged backgrounds, those with neurodiverse conditions and a broad range of ethnicities.
Claire McDougall, CEO of mental health and learning disability charity Phoenix Enterprises, whose group helped plant 76 trees in February, explained:
“This planting project is bringing another dimension to people’s lives…they’re growing something, they’re planting something, they’re learning skills you just don’t get in a warehouse environment. They’re also having time to think about wellbeing and being present in nature, which really helps with their mental health, and helps broaden their horizons.”
One participant, Thomas, said:
“I love how our trees would make everyone happy about what we’ve done. Being in nature makes me feel very calm.”
Employment Specialist at Phoenix Enterprises, Louise Hunt Skelley added:
“It’s been wonderful to see the impact it’s had on everyone we support, being out in the fresh air, getting exercise, and most importantly having fun! It’s also great to leave a legacy on a local area that’s clearly very special.”
The work doesn’t stop here. During the summer, Westonbirt is inviting groups back again to help us care for the young trees they helped us plant and to engage in several workshops including green careers, carbon and tree measuring, wildlife surveys, and eDNA soil sampling.
However, this winter’s work is a huge step towards the 9,000 total trees to be planted by April 2026 - helping to increase biodiversity, build resilience to future threats such as climate change within the woodland, and give as many people as possible vital access to nature and the outdoors.
Read our other blogs about the Silk Wood Community Planting Project here...
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