Weston Tree & Plant Group
a community group growing the green canopy of Weston-super-mare
About us
Weston's organisations, councils and communities come together to tree the town green.
Our aim is to bring together as many people, groups, organisations and businesses involved and interested in planting trees and other plants to increase tree canopy levels and biodiversity across the town. We think that through collaboration, the benefits to the town will be multiplied.
We invite people across Weston to come together, tell us about their projects and discuss how the group can collaborate and support them to grow.
We want to contribute towards Weston-super-Mare Town Council's commitment to planting and establishing at least 10,000 trees by 2030, and have adopted the Tree Charter.
If you would like to join the Weston Tree and Plant Group please join the mailing list to find out about meetings and events. Find us on Facebook.
Forum panel
A panel of facilitators from across Weston-super-Mare are in place to support and enable the ideas from this community group
The group consists of passionate members of the community who care about the trees and environment in our local area and want to mitigate climate change and the ecological emergency. You can join us by joining the newsletter to hear about meetings and activities you can attend.
About our trees
In 2014, North Somerset Council carried out a survey to understand the effects and values of the urban forest in the region.
The survey demonstrated the trees in Weston provide us with numerous structural and functional values such as:
• Carbon sequestration (Carbon absorption)
• The structural value of the tree stock
• Oxygen production
• Rainwater interception - leading to a reduction of flooding risk
• Pollutant interception
• Reducing energy costs
• Reducing urban heating (the Urban Heat Island Effect)
The survey also importantly highlighted that the canopy cover across the town is just 8.2% and of that 16.3% of that overall percentage is from the Ash species.
Since 2014, the growing awareness of the climate emergency and the prominence of Ash Dieback disease has increased our understanding of the value of trees and the urgent need to plant more and replace the trees we are losing to support a recovery in our ecological networks.
We know that we can’t plant our way out of the climate and ecological crisis, which requires societal change on many levels, but planting has multiple positive impacts on our climate, our environment and our health.
More information on ‘What tree’s do for you’ HERE.
Weston-super-Mare's Mayor, Councillor Sonia Russe planting Scots Pine at the Water Adventure and Play Park
across weston
North Somerset Council and Weston-super-Mare Town Council announced a climate emergency in 2019.
Carried out in 2022, the Forestry Commission's Canopy Cover Assessment project identified that although North Somerset Council's survey revealed the average canopy cover across Weston is just 8.2%, this canopy cover varies considerably from ward to ward, here's the breakdown:
While this may be considered a disappointing place to start from, it means that efforts can be rapidly rewarded with significant improvement in canopy cover over the coming years.
You can view the whole Forest Research Canopy Cover Map here.
Support trees for Weston
The Opportunity:
In alignment with the UK government's plan to enact mandatory Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) -aligned requirements for climate reporting, we see a unique opportunity for businesses to contribute to the future of Weston-super-Mare. Investing in tree planting is not just a climate-friendly initiative, it's an investment in the health, well-being, and economic vitality of our town.
Our Objective:
Our goal is ambitious yet achievable - to plant 10,000 trees in the coming years. With your support, we can turn this vision into a reality and make a lasting impact on our town's landscape.
The Invitation:
We invite your business to join us in this noble cause. Inside the attached invitation pack, you will find details of how your company, whatever size can contribute, whether through funding tree and planting projects, providing land for planting or encouraging your staff to participate in volunteer days.
The Trees of Milton Road Cemetery and Ellenborough Park West
How we're going to achieve this
Canopy cover
The group are actively promoting the growth of tree canopy cover in the town.
Street trees
The group are working with North Somerset Council to plant more street trees around the town.
Trees and Wellbeing
The group believe people exercise more and feel better around trees.
Green social prescribing
The group are working to promote green social prescribing in the town. Please get in touch if you can help!
projects
A new tree nursery is being developed at a site in the Maltlands area
of the Winterstoke ward.
Assisted by Weston Town Council, community members are currently
working with North Somerset Council to transform the disused space
next to Maltlands Play Area into a community tree nursery for Weston-super-Mare.
Please see our progress and get involved on our Facebook Page.
We anticipate that this will become a thriving community-led space to grow and nurture trees for planting in the future.
The tree nursery has the potential to become
invaluable to the town's planting commitments and
enable rare native species to be grown locally.
The trees grown could be used to create woodlands,
hedgerows and orchards or they can be planted in
dedicated green space such as local parks, school
grounds, private farmland, community gardens and
private household gardens.
Partnerships have already been made with groups
such as Friends of Grove Park, Keepers Gate Forest
School and Osprey Outdoors to help establish the site,
gain volunteers, share skills and collaborate with wider
community initiatives.
To learn more about community tree nurseries, see Forest Research's investigation into how community tree nurseries (CTNs) can contribute to satisfying the increasing demand for trees
across Britain.
Annual Events Calendar 2024
July
• Weston Tree and Plant group meeting – Wednesday 17th July 2024.
August
• National Allotments Week – Monday 12th – Sunday 18th August 2024.
September
• Weston Tree and Plant group meeting – Wednesday 18th September 2024. Speaker Creating a Community Arboretum with John Parker The Front Room Theatre.
Weston Tree and Plant group meeting – September 25th at 19.00
Seed Collecting Season - 23rd September – 23rd October 2024.
• Great British Beach Clean - tbc
October
• World Mental Health Day - 10th October 2024.
• Seed Collecting Season – until 23rd October 2024.
November
• Weston Tree and Plant group meeting – Wednesday 20th November 2024.
• National Tree Week – 27th November – 5th December 2024.
December
• World Soil Day – 5th December 2024.
Links and Resources
Links and Resources
Professional:
Institute of Chartered Foresters – www.charteredforesters.org
Arboricultural Association – www.trees.org.uk
International Society of Arborists – www.isa-arbor.com
Consulting Arborists Society – www.tree-expert-finder.co.uk
Tree Information:
Forestry Commission – www.forestry.gov.uk
Natural England – www.naturalengland.org.uk
Defra – www.defra.gov.uk
The Royal Forestry Society www.rfs.org.uk
Tree Council www.treecouncil.org.uk
Woodland Trust www.woodland-trust.org.uk
The Forest of Avon www.forestofavontrust.org
Ancient Tree Forum www.ancient-tree-forum.org.uk
Ancient Yew Group https://www.ancient-yew.org
Tree and Design Action Group www.tdag.org.uk
A-Z of Tree Terms www.treeterms.co.uk
Pests and Diseases:
Forestry Commission www.forestry.gov.uk
See – Forestry Research – Arboricultural Advisory and Information Service
Tree Safety:
National Tree Safety Group www.ntsg.org.uk
Trees and Planning:
Planning Portal – www.planningportal.gov.uk
Check relevant Planning Policy Statements (PPS) e.g. PPS9.
Check your local authority’s Local Plan for their local policies, tree strategy and any other supplementary guidance.
British Standard BS5837:2012 Trees in relation to design, demolition and construction
Trees and Development – A Guide to Best Practice – www.planningni.gov.uk
Links and Resources
Trees and the Law:
Tree Preservation Orders – guidance on www.gov.uk and www.planningportal.gov.uk
Conservation Areas – as above
High Hedges – guidance on www.gov.uk
Green Infrastructure:
Green Infrastructure Partnership – www.tcpa.org.uk
Ecosystems Knowledge Network www.ecosystemsknowledge.net
The Landscape Institute – www.landscapeinstitute.co.uk/policy/GreenInfrastructure.php
Ecosystem Services:
iTree Eco – www.itreetools.org
Treeconomics – www.treeconomics.co.uk
Big trees and tree maps:
The Tree Register www.treeregister.org
Treezilla – www.treezilla.org
Tree Collections – where to see some great trees:
Ashton Court Estate – www.bristol.gov.uk/page/leisure-and-culture/ashton-court-estate
Westonbirt Arboretum – www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt
Batsford Arboretum – www.batsarb.co.uk
Sir Harold Hillier Gardens – www.hants.gov.uk/hilliergardens
Kew Gardens -
Climate change:
The Carbon Footprint Ltd www.carbonfootprint.com
Permaculture:
Permaculture Association – www.permaculture.co.uk
Charities:
Tree Aid – www.treeaid.org.uk
Join us
If you would like to join the Weston Tree and Plant group please join the mailing list to find out about meetings and events.
Other local Climate change groups to join:
Friends of Prince Consort Gardens
I hope you enjoyed the trail
I hope you enjoyed the trail