Second tree planting held at Reach Learning Disabiliy’s Newark Flower Pod as part of joint Hawtonville Community Tree Project with Newark and Sherwood District Council, Greenwood Community Forest, and the Woodland Trust
A second planting event continued a project to add more coverage to an area lacking in trees.
The joint Hawtonville Community Tree Project — which includes partners Newark and Sherwood District Council, Reach Learning Disability, Greenwood Community Forest and the Woodland Trust — was launched last December at Reach’s Newark Flower Pod.
The Woodland Trust’s new Tree Equity Score tool identifies Hawtonville as having just 6% tree coverage — the lowest in Newark.
This compares to a regional average of 15% and national average of 19% urban tree cover, measured at the neighbourhood level, and the joint project will work with the local community to find the best places to plant more trees across Hawtonville.
The Flower Pod has now played host to a second tree planting event, on January 30, as part of the project, with eight apple trees donated by Woodland Dwelling planted at the Hawtonville site.
Samantha Dakin, Flower Pod Newark centre manager, said: “Flower Pod Newark is delighted to be part of the joint venture with Newark and Sherwood District Council, the Woodland Trust, and Greenwood Community Forest, creating lovely environments and much needed green space within Hawtonville.”
The Woodland Dwelling team assisted Flower Pod clients, volunteers and the community to plant the trees in an Espalier formation — tying the branches of the trees in a line — following the Flower Pod’s entrance path.
As part of the event, attendees also got a masterclass in pruning fruit trees and took part in Apple Wassailing, a traditional winter ceremony to bless fruit trees filled with singing, banging cymbals, and toasting with warm apple juice.
Adam Cormack, of the Woodland Trust, said: “One of the aims of this project is to work with the local community to find new locations for planting trees around Hawtonville and today we'll be speaking to some residents about this ahead of more community consultations this spring.”
The team will be back for another visit as part of the community tree project — with activities to include working with staff and service users at the Flower Pod, which include Hawtonville residents, to learn about trees and how to care for and plant them.
Over the next year the project will aim to arrange for new trees in public parks, private gardens, and along verges. Residents, schools and community groups will be consulted and included in the process, with a view for planting to go ahead next winter.
