Project launched to plant a million trees in the Marches by 2030

A dozen landowners across Herefordshire & Shropshire will be planting over 1200 oak trees this winter as part of a project that aims to double the tree cover in Herefordshire.

The project is a partnership between Extinction Rebellion, Herefordshire Wildlife Trust, local landowners and parish councils in the Marches.

“Over the next decade we’re hoping to double the number of trees we plant each year so that together we plant a million trees by 2030.” Said project coordinator, David Gillam from Golden Valley Extinction Rebellion. “This is our first year and its great to see so many people taking part. Planting a tree is something we can all do to help wildlife and our climate. We simply need to do a lot more of it. So if you’d like to help tackle the climate crisis and have a good time doing it just get in touch. I’m particularly pleased to see Bishops Frome parish council taking part as I feel this is the sort of community activity that everyone can take part in.”

The Herefordshire initiative was inspired by the Stump Up For Trees project that is planning to plant a million trees on the Brecon Beacons near Abergavenny with schools and community groups taking part. The aim is to create native woodland that will absorb carbon and create habitat for wildlife.

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust’s Senior Conservation Manager Andrew Nixon and David Gillam from Extinction Rebellion first met as part of a group helping to plan how Herefordshire can best tackle the climate and nature crisis we are facing. Clearly we have a huge amount to do in a very short time. We agreed that we really must get started with projects that can rapidly scale up and involve everyone in the county. Luckily tree planting is simple, effective and anyone can take part.

"Trees provide wildlife habitat, food, medicine, shade, sustainable timber, improved air quality, natural flood management and healthier soil. It's hard to overstate their benefit," said Helen Heathfield from Canon Frome, who plans to plant her oak trees near her local primary school where the children have already planted some fruit trees this autumn. "Most importantly trees sequester carbon and so they mitigate climate change. Tree planting is one of the best ways to tackle this global crisis. Now we just have to get on with it.”

 “In addressing climate change, few actions are as critical, as urgent, or as simple as planting trees. This ancient carbon-absorbing technology needs no high technology, is completely safe and is very cheap.” Christiana Figueres, UN Executive Secretary for Climate Change.

Herefordshire Wildlife Trust’s Andrew Nixon said: “It is great to be part of this initiative to give advice on the hows and whys of tree planting. From urban and garden trees to orchards and woodlands we’re certainly keen to see more trees in Herefordshire to tackle both the climate and ecological emergencies.² We also want to help people to pick the right tree for the space and environment that they are planting in and we can offer lots of advice about that.³ The Herefordshire landscape should be a mix of beautiful, wildlife-rich habitats – meadows, wetlands, orchards, heaths and woodlands – we need to see more of all of these for the benefit of both wildlife and people.”