The tree planting is taking place between Saturday 23rd November and Saturday 30th November.
We are seeking school groups and youth organisations such as scouts and brownies to help us plant the trees and to learn more about the project and why it’s so important. If you would like to arrange to bring a group or just to come and help us out the please get in contact with us letting us know your preferred date and whether morning or afternoon.
From a practical perspective we have space for minibus parking but no room for coaches, and the responsibility for the welfare of the children will lie with the teachers or leaders bringing them.
The UK Committee on Climate Change target is 50-100 million trees per year. We are currently planting ten million.
The UK has 13% tree coverage, the 2nd lowest in Europe and far behind China with 22% or the USA with 34%.
Trees give us Oxygen, store Carbon and provide the basis for life.
Sara Lom, CEO, The Tree Council
The UK Committee on Climate Change has called for a target of 1.5 to 3 billion new trees to be planted in the next 30 years. The right species of trees planted in the right places make the soil healthier and increase carbon storage and biodiversity. They also provide natural protection against flooding and drought and naturalise our rivers, streams and wetlands.
Matterdale is an old-fashioned valley in the Lake District UNESCO World Heritage Site. The traditional farming has shaped the valley, and lots of the land is still farmed in ways that benefit nature. There are wilder areas like Great Mell Fell, amazing species, rich wildflower meadows, lots of boggy places great for wading birds, and lots of species-rich grazed grassland. There are also a wide range of species that thrive here but are struggling elsewhere, like red squirrels, curlews and cuckoos.
But there are elements of the valley that can be much better and the Ullswater Catchment CIC have developed a plan to plant more trees, create more woodland pasture and to maintain or improve the traditional nature-rich farmland habitats and micro-habitats, like hedges and hay meadows.Another Way is planting one of the areas of the valley with 1,700 oak trees, hazel, blackthorn and hawthorn in a random fashion with no plastic.
