Tree Planting 2024

Our tree order will be back next year!

Why plant a tree, hedge or shrub?

We all know that globally we’re losing trees and wild areas at an alarming rate. As part of combatting this situation we’d like to make a positive move in the opposite direction and get planting more trees, shrubs and hedges here. We don’t have large communal areas available to plant trees in within the 3 villages. But, what we do have, is more than 1000 gardens collectively. If we all planted a new tree or shrub this autumn that would be 1000 new trees in the ground! How amazing would that be?!

This year again we have selected a list of small, medium and large trees and shrubs that should do well in the soil and conditions here. The plants will be bare root and ready to be planted out in early winter. They are young saplings to begin with and in time will grow and provide more shelter and food for wildlife in our gardens.

We hope that as many people as possible will join us and buy and plant a tree. If you have a gap in your garden, or space in your lawn, or even a large pot to grow a tree on for now - then have a look at the list below.

They would all be a great nature-friendly additions to your garden as specimen trees or used as native hedging. They can all be pruned (best time is generally after flowering) to maintain the size that works in your space. For images and more info about each tree please see the Woodland Trust's tree guide. The Woodland Trust page also gives advice on planting. The heights in brackets are their ultimate height over many years.

The selection

Small Trees / Shrubs / Hedging

Blackthorn (prunus spinosa) (7m) white flowers in early spring and sloes (black-purple fruit) in autumn.

Crab Apple (Malus sylvestris) (9m) Autumn fruits for wildlife.

Dog Rose (Rosa Canina) (10m) Pink and white flowers in summer and red hips in autumn and winter.

Dog Wood (Cornus sanguinea) (10m) Flowers, berries and autumn leaf colour.

Spindle (Euonymus europeaa) (9m) Early summer fruit, pink berries and autumn leaf colour.

Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus) (5m) Late spring white flowers, red berries and autumn leaf colour.

Wayfaring Tree (Viburnum lantana) (5m) white flowers in late spring, red berries.

Wild Privet (Ligustrum vulgare) (5m) white flowers in summer followed by black berries, semi-evergreen.

Medium Trees / Shrubs / Hedging

Field Maple (Acer campestre) (14m) Textured corky bark with age and autumn leaf colour.

Hawthorn (Crategus monogyna) (15m) Flowers in early summer, berries in autumn and leaf colour.

Hazel (Corylus avellana) (15m) Catkins in winter and hazelnuts in the following autumn.

Holly (Ilex aquifolium) (15m) Clusters of small flowers from late spring and berries in autumn, evergreen.

Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia) (15m) Clusters of white flowers in late spring, orange-scarlet berries in autumn.

Large Trees / Hedging

Beech (Fagus sylvatica) (40m) Beech nuts in autumn and autumn leaf colour that remains for much of the season.

Silver Birch (Betula pendular) (25m) Catkins in autumn, autumn leaf colour and papery white bark.

Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa) (35m) Silver-purple bark, large flowers followed by nuts in a spiky shell and autumn leaf colour.

Wild Cherry (Prunus avian) (25m) Clusters of flowers in early April, red berries in summer and autumn leaf colour.

Costs

The trees will be small (average of 40-60 cm tall) and will cost around £1 each. We will know the exact costs (including delivery and optional tree guards and canes) when we place our order for this year.

Timing

Trees are more expensive this year compared to last and there are also shortages. This might mean that some species are no longer available at the point of order. Please bare with us and we will see if alternative species can be found. This year's stock is also tending to be younger, so saplings may well be smaller than the previous years. Delivery of trees is likely to be some time between mid November and early December.

No space?

And if you have no space at all in your garden, then we would be delighted if you want to make a donation towards some of the communal trees that we will be planting along local foot paths. Do get in touch if you’d like to do that.