Volunteers needed to help saplings flourish at Hawling near Cheltenham

We planted trees here to create a small woodland in 2022/23 but they've had a hard time lately. Some help now would make a big difference
About this Event

Intro

Come and have a fun day with Protect Earth!

Protect Earth is a registered charity, helping farmers and landowners increase tree cover and biodiversity on their land. We plant trees on unused and degraded farmland, use trees to provide shade and shelter for crops and livestock, create wildflower meadows, and help with tree maintenance for saplings that are struggling.

What is happening?

We don’t believe in planting trees and then leaving them to their own devices, as this leads to high losses in the early years. Protect Earth guarantees support and a survival rate of at least 80% five years after planting.

We planted a small woodland here in 2022 and some more trees were added in 2023. They are currently in need of some extra help.

The tasks are fairly straightforward so no previous experience is required.

• Straightening and resetting any stakes or guards which are falling over.
• Replacing damaged stakes or guards.
• Identifying any dead saplings.
• Removing grass growing inside the guards as this damages the bark and can K*ll the tree.
• Spreading wood chippings around the base of each tree to suppress grass and weeds.

We appreciate volunteers who are able to come for half a day or the whole day and children are very welcome. We love it when the local community gets involved in their area, andwe love making new friends.

What do I need to bring/ know?

No previous experience is necessary as we’ll train you up and provide all the necessary equipment. Please come dressed for the weather.

The landowner is providing lunch, tea, coffee, and biscuits to keep you going and to thank you for your help.

Full details will be sent out a week before the event, including the address and meeting place.

Will there be parking?

• There is on-site parking.

Whenever possible we encourage volunteers to car share, use public transportation, or even cycle, to keep emissions down and avoid stressing parking space.

What happens if we need to cancel?

Bad weather is difficult to plan for. In general, we will continue to plant if it’s raining, but if a severe storm is forecast or temperatures of over 28 C are predicted, we will have to postpone an event for your safety. We will try and notify you as soon as we possibly can, and you’ll be invited to the rescheduled event.