Did you know that one of the easiest ways you can help nature is by growing and planting a native tree!
Growing trees can really help nature recover and improve the natural environment where you live, for both wildlife and people, for generations to come.
As part of our vision for creating a sustainable new community at Langarth we are planning to plant over 5 hectares (12 acres) of new woodland and other trees throughout the site to provide food, shelter, shade and nesting and roosting sites for wildlife, as well as supporting cleaner air and helping to capture carbon.
Last year we set up our own tree nursery at Langarth so we can grow our own trees for planting into their final location in the Garden Village.
We now have more than 4,000 trees thriving in our tree nursery:
We will be working with the Forest for Cornwall team to plant a further 10,000 trees during the next tree planting season between November 2022 and February next year.
We are also backing the Woodland Trust’s Growing Trees from Seeds campaign which is encouraging people to collect, grow and plant their own tree seeds.
We want to encourage as many people as possible to get involved in a county-wide autumn seed search by pulling on their wellies and getting out and about to collect tree seeds.
Tree seeds come in all shapes and sizes so try and make sure you are collecting seeds from trees and shrubs which grow naturally in Cornwall. There are a huge range to choose from – including alder, blackthorn, elder, English oak, hawthorn, hazel, holly, rowan and sessile oak.
Once the seeds have been collected, they need to be put into pots and containers to grow until they are strong enough to be planted out in a recommended location.
As part of our plans to create new woodland at Langarth we want to offer people the opportunity to plant their saplings in our tree nursery next year so they are ready to welcome the first residents as they move into their new homes in 2024.
And if you do plant seedlings next year just think how tall the trees will be when the scheme is completed in 2038!
The best time to collect tree seeds is between September and October. During the next few weeks we will be contacting local schools and playgroups to encourage them to take part in the scheme and look forward to working with local people to help us grow more trees at Langarth.
You can find out more about the campaign on the Woodland Trust website – https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/plant-trees/advice/grow-from-seed/
