Proud to support the planting of thousands of trees and hedgerow whips
We’re delighted to be supporting the Jubilee Partners’ initiative administered by The Tree Council which aims to plant 35,000 trees and 7 kilometres of hedgerows in communities across the UK.
Most of the planting, in celebration of The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, is going ahead during the 2022/23 planting season but the initiative was able to fund 14 projects during the 2021/22 planting season.
We and the other Jubilee Partners are celebrating the collective environmental and social impact of the projects completed in the 2021/22 tree planting season which is helping to tackle the dual climate and biodiversity crises.
The work so far:
- 4,020 trees planted, which will help to store carbon, provide shade, alleviate flooding, and improving mental health and wellbeing.
- 3,022 hedgerow whips (618 metres of hedgerow) were planted, giving new habitats for thousands of species including birds, hedgehogs, bats, the great-crested newt, dormice and butterflies.
These planting projects were throughout the UK, from East Lothian in Scotland to Exeter on the south coast.
The projects planted over 30 native tree species were planted, including:
- Plum
- Rowan
- Crab Apple
- Hawthorn Quince
- Silver Birch Hazel
- Hornbeam
- Oak Blackthorn
- Apple Alder
- Redcurrant Dogwood
- Cherry Pear
- Elm
- Spindle Goat Willow
- Beech
- Field Maple
We need to plant 30,000 hectares of trees each year until 2050 as part of measures to reduce UK carbon emissions, according to analysis from the Climate Change Committee (CCC). They are England’s largest priority habitat, supporting over 2,000 precious species. For example, bumble bees use them to guide their foraging activity.
The UK has lost 50% of its hedgerows since World War II. CCC recommendation to extend hedges by 40% means that 200,000km of hedgerow needs to be planted in the UK to help tackle climate change – 3 metres of hedgerow per person in the UK.
Examples of projects include:
- The Baba Budha Ji Educational Trust in Peterborough which has planted 24 trees with the local community to celebrate the 550th anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of the Sikh faith.
- Letham Mainsprimary School in East Lothian, Scotland which has planted 22 apple, pear, quince and plum trees to create an orchard which will bear fruit to support local families and encourage healthy eating.
- Brecon Beacons, Action for Conservation in Powys, Wales organised a diverse group of 25 young people aged 12-18 to plant 1,987 hedgerow whips (around 400 metres of hedgerow), providing a vital wildlife corridor in the valley.
- Lancaster West Estate, London has planted a 30-metre fruiting hedgerow in their community garden as part of their “Lanc West Grows Best” community growing initiative.