We worked with local communities to help them to learn about their existing trees and hedgerows and encouraged and supported them to care for and protect them. We also supported local groups to plant new trees on publicly accessible land. Some of these trees were named to commemorate a local hero, legend or story of interest or linked to an annual event.
Trees and Hedges Community Events
Calverton Community Woodland
Calverton Parish Council had identified the former pitch putt site as a potential tree planting location. Supported by the Greenwood Community Forest Trees for Climate project and the Trees and Hedges project, the site was surveyed to check the existing wildlife interest and a number of design options were put forward for consideration.
Following consultation with local people, a community woodland was agreed. Almost 100 Calverton residents joined a special weekend tree-planting session at the former pitch & putt site at the William Lee Memorial Park on Sunday, 12 February.
The community event followed school sessions attended by St Wilfrid's C of E Primary School who planted 120 native trees such as oak, birch, holly and field maple. Later in the week, Sir John Sherbrooke Junior School completed the school planting with a further 65 trees.
The people of Calverton now have their own 1.5ha community woodland and there are plans to improve access and use the area for quiet outdoor activities.
Hawthorne Primary School - Trees for Shade project
Following a hot summer and a particularly scorching sports day, staff and children became acutely aware of the lack of shade on the school playing field.
They planted 12 standard trees on the field and although it will take a few years, future generations of pupils and staff will have some shady spots to eat lunch and cheer on the football teams.
We also took the opportunity to involve the children in some additional planting to increase the size of their ‘future forest’ school’s area.
Linby Heritage Centre Tree Planting
The community tree planting day was held on Sunday, 27 February 2023.
Last year, during National Tree Week, children from Linby Cum Papplewick primary school planted half a hedge. This year, over 30 members of the Linby community, old and young, planted the remaining hedge and a single Common Lime tree, known as the Linden tree, after which Linby is thought to be named.
The event celebrated the connection between trees and heritage. The trees were co-funded with a grant secured from the Tree Council.
Darling Buds of May Event – Bestwood Country Park
Following the success of the inaugural event in 2022, Friends of Bestwood Country Park, supported by Greenwood Community Forest and Miner2Major ran the second Darling Buds of May event.
Once again, the weather was kind and the event was well attended which helped generate additional income for the Friends group via sales at the volunteer led café and a plant stall, helping with group sustainability and reinvesting money into the park.
A questionnaire was produced for the event; to help with our evaluation and to help guide the event in the future. We received 18 responses (an estimated 5% response rate). When asked ‘As a result of attending this event, do you feel you know more about the nature and heritage of Bestwood Country Park?’ the responses were overwhelmingly positive with ten ‘Strongly Agreeing’ and six ‘Tend to Agree’ with one neutral response.
Comments about the event included:
‘People of all ages enjoying themselves and being together. Thank you, it is good we are doing something for the environment’.
‘My child has learnt a lot from today's event’
‘Kids have had a fab afternoon and enjoyed spending time without technology’
‘It was great learning about the former mine from the people who worked there’
‘The Majee Oak’ – Sherwood Heath
Following the planting of a ‘Sherwood Oak’ in 2022 at Sherwood Heath in commemoration of Ian Major, a former Sherwood Forest Trust (SFT) staff member and advocate for conservation, heritage and communities SFT have continued support work in the area.
More recently an information board has been added providing up to date information about events and activities and the area provides a ‘hub’ for a range of activities, including an annual ‘Big Volunteering’ event, which not only celebrates Ian, but also aims to inspire local people about the trees, heritage and wildlife of ‘the Heath’.
Before the events, Sherwood Heath was mainly used my dog walkers living nearby, and has gone relatively unappreciated as a Local Nature Reserve and SSSI. Thanks to the legacy of Ian Major, and the events as part of this project, SFT have noticed an increase in family visitors, local people & local groups (scouts, cubs, The Adventure Service, etc.) interested in wildlife and using the site.
SFT will continue to utilise this new heritage tree planting area as a ‘hub’ for educational and conservation sessions.
The Major Oak Woodland Festival
The Sherwood Forest Trust hosts the Major Oak Woodland Festival every year at the Sherwood Forest National Nature Reserve, which is a festival that celebrates ancient woodlands, wildlife, local heritage and traditional crafts.
The event is a good way to people to learn more about the history and heritage of Sherwood Forest and visitors to the event can ask for a tree to be planted for a relative or friend and are invited to help with the planting of their own ‘heritage tree’.
Linby Primary School Viking Event
Following on from the Linby Heritage Centre planting day, we arranged a follow up education event at the school with ‘Magnus the Viking’. The session included learning and understanding about how Vikings lived, different levels in Viking society, why they came here, what they did and learning about Viking artefacts. The session also covered the special connection between Linby and the Vikings. There is a local legend about how the women of Linby defeated Viking invaders who had enslaved them and invented the pancake in celebration.
Some comments from the children:
“I liked everything! It was all really fun”
“I liked it because I don’t normally see Vikings”
“I’ve never made anything like this before. I’m proud of myself”
2 O’clock Club
On 6 December 2022, in conjunction with the Miner2Major Engagement Officer, we held a tree planting event with the 2 O’clock Club (a Wellbeing Group from Bilsthorpe). The group came into being following the lifting of COVID restrictions and with support from Helen, provided the opportunities for people living in isolation to meet up and get involved in a range of activities including walking, arts and crafts and Tai Chi.
The group wanted to plant a tree to celebrate their achievements and to represent the friendships they had forged. They requested a cherry tree as they loved the colours of the flowers, bark and the leaves and an ornamental cherry was selected which met their requirements. ‘Feel Good Gardens’ near Sherwood Pines, who provided a base for many of the group’s activities, kindly provided a space and a secure location for the tree which can be revisited by the members of the club.