Steyning for Trees

PLEASE NOTE THE BIG PLANT EVENT ON 10TH APRIL IS POSTPONED DUE TO COVID 19 CONCERNS

Following on from the cancellation of the Good Friday Big Plant-Up at Abbey Road we have now also had to cancel the planting of the hedging plants and the new elm tree. As you can imagine, in the midst of the current concerns about the coronavirus infection, it has simply proved impossible to get together the necessary work force to plant 400+ hedge trees along with the two semi-mature disease-resistant elms.

The hedging plants came from the Woodland Trust and the elms from the South Downs National Park Authority. All are in good shape. We have been assured by the Woodland Trust that we are looking after them correctly. Maybe the enforced delay will be a blessing in disguise as to plant the trees into very wet ground – as it is at the moment – isn’t the best as the roots may rot. Hopefully we can plant into ground that is less sodden next year.

Steyning For Trees will be working through the summer on our other projects although sadly we won’t be seeing any of you at our planned stand at the now cancelled Steyning Festival.

We will be back, Planting Big at Abbey Road, later in the year. Our fight against climate change is not diminished, just delayed.

Steyning For Trees (SFT) is a new  community group  formed to help fight climate change by promoting the planting of more trees. Trees are also vital for the beauty of our town and landscape  – and our mental wellbeing. The Steyning Society is keen to support SFT and the Society has provided a grant to assist their work. The aims of this group complement that of the Steyning Society and so it has been agreed that SFT should be affiliated to the Society.

At the October 2019 Steyning market SFT gave away 240 trees and hedges (Blackthorn, Hawthorn, Hazel and Crab Apple) to gardeners, sourced from The Woodland Trust . They are now working, with the Parish Council to undertake tree planting on selected green spaces in Steyning owned by the Parish.

SFT are  working closely with other organisations including  The Woodland Trust and the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE). However, they are  also very dependent on local volunteers for committee work, planting and funding. If you think you can help then please contact:: SteyningForTrees@gmail.com