The 'Big Tree Plant'

Discussion in 'Trees' started by clueless1, Feb 17, 2011.

  1. clueless1

    clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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    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.
     
  2. lukenotts

    lukenotts Gardener

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    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.
     
  3. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    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.
     
  4. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

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    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 :what:

    They didn't bother again:thumbsup:

    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 :dbgrtmb:
     
  5. clueless1

    clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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    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.
     
  6. Phil A

    Phil A Guest

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  7. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    I don't have trouble growing trees from seed as every year I dig at least 4 - 5 saplings that have sprouted up in my borders unasked! All are of different varieties from Ash to Oak and are potted up waiting for me to find a place for them somewhere. In all there are 23 but where to plant them without some one objecting, including the Council. I will, in the end, probably ask the Rangers at the nearby forest if I can plant them there.
     
  8. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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    We pull up at least 100 ash saplings every year. They go straight into the recycling bin as we have run out of people that want them. We probably get about 10 oak saplings a year as well (squirrel planted) and no one wants them.

    Our village have an official tree preservation and management man who most definitely doesn't want ash or oak. :)

    The problem with planting trees in gardens is that the get BIG as well as causing possible problems shading and sapping goodness from the garden. We have been in our house for nearly 40 years and have planted many trees over the years - still have over 50 of one sort or another and used to have about 100. Unfortunately we now also have to remove a lot of trees as they get too old or too big. We have been doing this over a number of years but it is getting much too expensive. So we do not replace many.

    I would guess that local authorities would argue that tree management costs too much and wouldn't allow you to plant on public land.
     
  9. Marley Farley

    Marley Farley Affable Admin! Staff Member

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    :scratch: Well maybe I am extra lucky then as I always plant tree seedlings I have grown on either around our farm boundary or 2 other farmers boundaries I have talked to them & they are more than willing for me to transplant hard wood trees into the hedgerows or as I have just done a fields worth of Ash & Willow, chestnuts (both sweet & horse) & Oak tree transplants over the last 3 yrs around 2 fields... He Plans to coppice them as was always done around here in hedgerows in years gone by & when we first came here nearly 40yrs ago now..!!!!! :D A different landscape now I tell you..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Talk to your local farmers as it is surprising how many would love to have tree planting done..... They are busy people, but also appreciate other peoples input too as long as you talk to them first..!!! :WINK1: :thumbsup:
     
  10. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    Your're right, Marley, I'll ask the farmers around here, and where I go fishing, plus the Forest Rangers at the nearby forest.
     
  11. HBK

    HBK Gardener

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    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.
     
  12. clueless1

    clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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    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.
     
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