The 'Big Tree Plant'

Hi all

The government is boasting about its 'Big Tree Plant', where they said they would be planting a million new trees. Very commendable I must say, and I was going to say maybe we as ordinary folks should have a go at matching their million, but on doing a bit of research it seems the government aren't really doing it at all, they're asking us to do it.

http://thebigtreeplant.direct.gov.uk/index.html

But never mind. Maybe those of us that can, should have a go at joining in anyway. Its not about politics, its about trees, and making our little bit of the world a little bit nicer.

So how about it? Could any of us plant some new trees?

In terms of costs, here's the thing. If everyone acts individually, it could be quite expensive. Single trees often start at a few quid. But you can buy packs of trees that work out at about 50p each, so getting a few friends together to chip in makes it cost next to nothing.

Now for the downside. In every neighbourhood you get the odd vandal, who doesn't like the idea of the area being nice, and will bust things just because they can. I wonder how we can have a successful tree plant while that's true.

 

Sounds like a very commendable nationwide goal, which we should all be taking seriously.

A bit late now, but the toilet tissue company - Velvet - were giving away free trees to applicants last September. (I bet there was a thread on CG back then)

We planted our Rowan (despite its small size) and hopefully it will have survived this harsh winter.

I think its important to maintain the native species of the UK, and perhaps in addition to a goverment led scheme to get US to shell out for it, a little help would be good.

It wouldnt be difficult for the government to enable people to order trees at a reduced rate, by setting up a partnership with an appropriate company?

Another thing I think is important, that not all of the 1 million trees would be suited to being planted into peoples gardens, but in areas of unused land, or in addition to current woodlands, as I would guess this would be more beneficial to the surrounding wildlife.

 

Well I've never understood why trees actually cost money.

I've grown loads over the years from seed, I've lost count of how many I have thrown out because I have no permanent position to plant them, must admit I've now managed to stop myself growing them.

But it always amazes me when we get these organised tree planting sessions or sponsor a tree campaigns, how much it all costs.

I must admit when it comes to "urban" tree planting you need fairly large specimens to start with, and they cost.
But most just get vandalised these days.
I wish my council would plant less trees, and protect the ones they do plant, instead of planting loads every year that die of drought in their first summer, get ring barked with strimmers, and vandalised.

I'd also like to say that in my local park the council have started tree cutting in order to open up "views and vistas" as they put it.
They add that they will be planting more trees also, just cant work out where and why, and guess what,.....they want the public to do the work.

 

Thats easy Dave, just plant a tree that loves to be coppiced, Willow or Hazel spring to mind, that would mess em up :D

Vandals kicked in a load of lime render I was doing some years back. It takes a while to cure so I just wetted it up and re floated it. Bet that confused them next time they walked past it

They didn't bother again

Trees are very cheap if you collect your own seed or pot on saplings that appear in the garden, its just finding somewhere to plant them out.

There is a 20 foot Horse Chestnut (Aesculus would like that one) In a hedge in Crewkerne that my boy and I planted out when he was just a toddler.

Sweet chestnuts would be another good one, they coppice well too and can produce an edible crop some years.

Going off topic, cracked HTML coding Dave, have a look at my website, cheers for your help with that

 

Some good points mentioned so far.

I guess this is the wrong time of year to start this thread really, because we're very nearly at the end of tree planting season if we were to choose the cheaper bare root ones.

I reckon Pete's way is best in theory, growing them from seed, but its tricky for the less green fingered among us, and it takes a while for the trees to get to a point where they'll stand a good chance of fending for themselves.

I think Luke is right too. A typical suburban garden is not the best place to grow some of our larger native trees. I guess if we lean our local councils they might find us a bit of open ground that isn't being used for anything. That would be the place to do it.

I also like Ziggy's idea. Some trees are pretty much indestructible. Those would be the trees to plant in areas where vandalism is likely to be a problem.

 

Or even trees that fight back :D

treethatwillmessyouupbigtime:D

 

I didn't see this thread beforehand but I've unknowingly helped nonetheless; today I planted 6 trees, tomorrow I'm planting 2 more and I'm also giving 2 away for a friend to plant. That's 10 off a million, not a bad start.

 

I planted about 40 at the back end of last year, but that was before the government announced their initiative so I don't think I've contributed:(

If I'd waited a few more weeks, I'd have been part of the 'big tree plant' and the government could have had all the credit for it.