On World Surroundings Day final yr, we made a promise to plant 1,000 timber throughout the U.Okay. to assist enhance air high quality, soak up CO2, and enhance biodiversity. You’ll be able to learn extra about our promise, and the considering behind it in our unique weblog put up.
We made the promise as a result of we expect it’s necessary we do what we are able to to sort out CO2 right here within the UK, and since – fairly merely – it felt like the suitable factor to do.
I’ve spent the previous couple of months travelling throughout Britain, assembly wonderful individuals from colleges and group teams, and planting timber. I assumed I’d share among the tales of the individuals I’ve met on the way in which.
To this point, we’ve planted over 1,600 timber across the UK.
Right here’s a map of all of the locations we’ve damaged floor:
Click on the little octopuses to see footage of every planting!
What we hadn’t anticipated was simply how rewarding it might be to get out of the workplace and see firsthand the way in which tree planting can carry individuals collectively, get them speaking about necessary points just like the atmosphere, and to make an actual distinction to a group.
Just a few highlights from my journeys across the U.Okay.
St Andrew’s C of E Major, Islington – 18 October
We teamed up with Arsenal within the Group to plant timber at St Andrews Major in Islington. We had a complete crew of planting helpers from Chris Collins to JB Gill to Gunnersaurus!
Spinney Hill Major, Leicester – 9 November
We planted 6 timber at Spinney Hill to have fun the opening of our new workplace in Leicester. This faculty, set proper within the metropolis, doesn’t have a lot in the way in which of inexperienced house (although we LOVED their “mud kitchen”!) We had been so completely happy to have the ability to add some greenery to the grounds. Our essential gardening guys, Chris Collins and JB Gill, got here alongside to assist us plant. JB acquired a rapturous reception from the lecturers!
St Nicks Surroundings Centre, York – 22 December
Subsequent, we trekked as much as historic York so as to add some timber to the wonderful nature reserve sorted by St Nicks. This website, previously a landfill, has been remodeled into an unimaginable 21-acre reserve. Child octopuses apart, all method of critters dwell right here, from badgers to water voles and even otters. Rachael Maskell MP got here alongside and acquired caught in too, serving to us to plant 50 hazel, holly and hawthorn timber to develop an understory.
The York Press lined our planting at St Nick’s nature reserve, and Rachael wrote a stunning piece about it for her weblog.
Woodingdean Major, Brighton – 12 January
We travelled all the way down to Brighton to plant a hedgerow of hazel timber to shelter the college’s new outside studying space from chilly coastal winds. The inventive gardeners got here up with a model new toy: “child octopus on a stick” (pictured). The unbelievable Lloyd Russell-Moyle MP got here alongside and helped us plant – working within the mud in a full go well with!
Highgate Major, Highgate – 19 January
We braved taking a full-sized pitchfork on the Northern line to plant 100 timber at Highgate Major in London to develop right into a hedge alongside the fence line. This faculty is located inside 150 metres of a street travelled by greater than 10,000 vehicles per day. Our go to to Highgate emphasised how essential efforts to minimise air air pollution are in a metropolis like London. Catherine West MP, antipodean like ⅔ of the Octopus tree crew, was unbelievable assist. It was actually thrilling to talk to her about her efforts to minimise the plastic packaging in UK supermarkets.
We featured in Ham & Excessive for our work planting at Highgate Major. Their head trainer William additionally lined the planting on the college’s web site.
Spindle Level Major, Bolton – 26 January
We travelled to Spindle Level Major in Bolton, planting a mini-woodland of quite a few native timber together with subject maple, wild cherry, and english oak, to assist begin the college’s Forest Faculty. The college held a nature-themed artwork competitors to determine who would get to assist us plant the timber. Tremendous headmistress Jenny confirmed us a few of their wonderful creations, from a hedgehog produced from autumn leaves to a tree sculpted from recycled plastic bottles. Yasmin Qureshi MP was an enormous assist and miraculously managed to maintain her pristine white gown free from mud!
Arsenal Coaching Grounds, London Colney – 19 February
We continued our tree planting at Arsenal’s coaching floor in London Colney. Three fortunate Junior Gunners gained a contest to plant the timber with Shkodran Mustafi, Sead Kolasinac, Henrikh Mkhitargan, Gunnersaurus and Michael the Groundsman.
Boston West Academy, Boston – 23 February
We spent an inspiring morning at Boston West Academy planting an English oak and 10 beech timber with the college’s 12 months 6 Eco Warriors. Their faculty’s deputy head, Emma, confirmed us across the grounds the place we noticed a willow tree maze, a reflective outside space encircled by a carved wood dragon, a tree-themed studying room, and even some very well-loved (and well-fed!) chickens. Their wonderful Forest Faculty made all of us want we had been all again at college! Our pretty SuperGreen buyer Kevin, who beneficial we plant timber at Boston West (his granddaughter goes there), got here alongside to assist us plant too, in addition to the fabulous Matt Warman MP who dug deep to get these timber within the floor.
The Railway Youngsters’s Stroll , Grove Park – 13 April
We hit a unbelievable planting milestone of 1,500 timber in Grove Park, the place we planted a mini orchard of crabapple, hazel, and wild cherry timber on “The Railway Youngsters’s Stroll”. This secluded inexperienced walkway close to the railway line was the place Edith Nesbit was impressed to put in writing her basic kids’s story. Our planting introduced collectively native Councillor Mark Ingleby, Stephen from the Grove Park Neighbourhood Discussion board, and many pretty volunteers from the group to inexperienced up a favorite native spot.
Glyncollen Major Faculty, Swansea – 20 April
Subsequent up, we travelled to our first Welsh tree planting, in Swansea. We planted a hedge of hawthorn, wild cherry and hazel at this pretty faculty beneath the baking solar (the true Welsh expertise). Glyncollen’s superior eco council and their trainer Rhian joined us toiling away within the solar, overseen as at all times by Chris Collins, gardener extraordinaire; our superior photographer Lisa; and Constantine the fluffy octopus.
Enjoyable truth: Glyncollen truly means “Valley of the Hazel timber” in Welsh!
Boughton Leigh Toddler Faculty + Abbots Farm Toddler Faculty, Rugby – 27 April
This time, a double whammy— planting 110 timber in two Rugby colleges with the assistance of Rugby’s fabulous Mayor Belinda Garcia who braved the rain to present us a hand.
First we added 10 cherry and birch timber to the Gruffalo wooden at Boughton Leigh Toddler Faculty, earlier than heading to Abbots Farm Toddler Faculty to plant 100 hazel and maple timber with practically 200 eager little gardeners to type a hedgerow round their play space. Our fluffy octopus wanted a visit to the dry cleaners after the day’s efforts!
St Stephen’s Major Faculty – 8 June
We have lastly come to our final planting day! We completed up with one thing just a little completely different. Gardening wizard Chris Collins held a workshop with the cool children of St Stephen’s, instructing them to construct their very personal wildlife backyard full with all the pieces from stunning flowers to bug accommodations. Sir Vince Cable got here alongside to help, too.
The place to from right here?
This planting season has been an enormous success, and significantly rewarding for me on a private stage. We’re already planning on going larger and higher for our subsequent planting season, so watch this house!
Planting season kicks off once more subsequent Winter, however we’ll hold you within the loop within the meantime about our upcoming plans. If you happen to assume your faculty or group group is likely to be in want of some timber, please drop us a line to timber@octopus.vitality.
