Boost for city’s trees

A leading Devon charity is making Exeter an even more green and pleasant place to live.

Since November 2012 Devon Wildlife Trust’s Big Tree Plant has been working with local communities across the city to plant trees in schools, parks and public spaces. During the winter the Big Tree Plant was responsible for planting nearly 2,000 saplings. The trees are all native species and include apple, cherry, rowan, oak, alder and hawthorn. Together they are providing wildlife with new homes and adding a fresh green backdrop to Exeter.

Devon Wildlife Trust has spearheaded the project, but it has been a massive community effort with more than 2,000 people from the city’s businesses, community groups, schools and the University of Exeter all taking part in the planting. The initiative has been made possible by funding from Defra.

Devon Wildlife Trust’s Emily Stallworthy has masterminded the mass tree-planting. She said: ‘The project has been more successful than we dared hope. We only anticipated planting around 1,000 trees in the project’s first year but we’ve doubled that target. This has been due to the unprecedented response of local people who have come forward with their enthusiasm and donated their time to make Exeter a greener, and hopefully, a better place to live.’

Emily continued: ‘There’s something special about the power of trees which motivates people. We have had students from primary and secondary schools, staff from Waitrose, University students and local residents all involved, all giving up their time to plant trees.’

Now the Big Tree Plant is set for a further boost. An American-based engineering company has stepped in to provide a further £2,300 funding. The Alcoa Foundation is part of the Alcoa Howmet company, which has a base at the city’s Sowton industrial estate. The Foundation is funding the Big Tree Plant as part of its world-wide Ten Million Trees Campaign.

Emily welcomed the latest cash injection: ‘The news that the Alcoa Foundation is backing The Big Tree Plant is a massive vote of confidence. The money will allow us to continue to plant trees in the city and to work with even more people. We have plans to take the project forward planting community orchards. We have already planted one orchard at St Lukes Sports and Science College and now we have plans to plant others elsewhere involving other communities. In time, these orchards will provide great wildlife habitats, a wonderfully colourful backdrop to parts of the city and an edible legacy!’      

The Big Tree Plant forms part of Exeter Wild City, a wider, ongoing partnership project between Devon Wildlife Trust and Exeter City Council. The aim of the project is to improve green space for wildlife and people across the city.

For further information on the Devon Wildlife Trust visit www.devonwildlifetrust.org