Trees for Life in the Pulhams
Two communities in south Norfolk have been brought closer together thanks to their shared love of tree planting.
With help from the County Council, The Conservation Volunteers and the Rotary Club, over 300 trees have now been planted in The Pulhams.
Hillary Hardy explains how it all came to fruition.
It began in March 2020, when a lady came out of her house to see what I was doing, standing on the village green in Pulham Market in South Norfolk with my banner, in support of Caroline Lucas’ CEE Bill ! This was Alex, who later gave me the inspiration and ideas for starting a campaign to plant 500 trees in the two Pulham villages where we live. In August, Alex prepared a leaflet to go out with the September village magazine (‘The Pulhams’ ), asking individuals, businesses, landowners, community groups etc, to get involved in tree planting or sponsoring a tree. Leaflets were also put in local shops and the Pennoyers Centre in Pulham St. Mary.
We also had a table at the Pulham Carnival, on Sept 11th, again on Pulham Market Green, where we made new contacts and got pledges to plant at least 36 trees. The project was starting to be well received. My grandchildren made a great logo for us , and we had a huge stroke of luck when we had a generous donation of 350 trees, and the services of someone who knew how to plant them, Ruari a former forester! As I knew virtually nothing about planting trees, this was a real godsend. The trees were from the Woodland Trust, very good quality - Hazel, Rowan, Dogwood, Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Crab Apple, Grey Willow and Oak . Also a lady from North Green, Pulham St Mary, potted up a large number of native saplings for us from the wild part of their garden. Thank you, Val .
By now we had visited two large plots where landowners wanted trees planting, and also a rewilding project in Bush Green, Pulham St Mary, where they would do the planting themselves. I had also made contacts, for instance with Mark Webster at TCV (The Conservation Volunteers), who made two site visits, and Lee Cozens, Outreach Officer (Greenways to Green Spaces) from Norfolk County Council. Lee has given me a huge amount of support during the last few months, and helped at Elm Tree Farm, North Green, where Pat and Francis Webb wanted to plant a wood in a field adjacent to a footpath, hence easily accessible to the public. We laid out the area, just under an acre, with canes where a ride or wide path would go through it, and where three oaks would provide structure . Pat has had a lot to do with the Rotary Club over her life, and their volunteers would provide the labour!
So, on November 17th, instructed by Ruari the forester with an enthusiastic group of Rotary Club volunteers , 50 small trees, tall stakes and tree shelters needed to protect from the roe deer, we had our first planting day and Rotary Wood was started. Over the winter we have had several more planting days, the last one on February 28th at the Old Rectory, Pulham Market, with volunteers from the local group of TCV led by Bex Cross. The week before, 4 of us had planted 60 trees there on the Monday after storm Eunice ! It is amazing planting trees in windy weather – one of the highs of this project.
It is gratifying that the tree surgeon at the Old Rectory who planted the first section of trees there, is applying for the wood that has been created to be part of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. In this vein more people have written to let me know that they have planted trees. A few trees have also been planted in memory of a loved one.
I do not have a completely accurate count of how many have been planted, around 300-350 is about right. At one point I thought we might make 500 in each village, and I was wildly happy , but this did not materialise, perhaps next year ! As Alex has said, ‘We can’t hold everyone’s hand and that was never really the intention. The idea was to put it in everyone’s consciousness and they would plant their own trees.’
What does matter is that a large number of trees and some hedging have been put in the ground and they will be absorbing carbon and releasing oxygen as well as providing shelter and habitat for birds, small mammals, whilst also making life better for all of us! I’ve just read that planting 100 trees will reduce 2 tonnes of carbon . It’s something we can all do, young and old, and relatively simple . It is amazing to think that even in ten years these trees will be really established, providing we take care of them. Let’s do it , and plant some more!
Happy Planting.
If you would like to find out more about the Trees for Life project, please visit our website, 700milliontrees.com
To get involved with TCV volunteering, contact bex.cross@tcv.org.uk
Dates for local area events:
+ 7th Hedge planting at St. Clements Common, Rushall.
+ 14th Scything first cut, wildflower meadow, Brockdish Upper Common
+ 21st Habitat mapping & coppicing hazel. St Clements Common Rushall. 28thth Scything. Langmere Green, Rushall.
All tools & training provided.
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