There is a multitude of exciting activities in Swale this year for National Tree Week that everyone can get involved in. From educational talks on tree identification, to craft activities like ink-making to getting out and planting some trees in our gardens and countryside.
Swale FoE members are supporting many of these activities (listed below) and you can get involved too! And don’t forget to keep asking your MP and your council to double tree cover – so that we can help curb runaway climate change as well as providing homes for nature.
Trees for Farms – 6th & 7th December
Trees for Farms is a voluntary group which liaises with farms to plant more hedges in the Swale area. Swale FoE members have been supporting the group for a while and joining dig days this month to plant 1500 native hedgerow trees on local farms in Doddington and Conyer.
They are always looking for volunteers (all instruction given) and there are still a few places for the planting at Conyer next weekend - 6th and 7th December. Visit their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/2486300888080462 or email treeplantersa1@gmail.com
Plant a tree for free!
Faversham Town Council has 1000 young trees to give away as part of the Council's Climate and Biodiversity initiatives.
You need to book an appointment to collect one from Faversham town centre. When booking you will be asked to select which size garden you have and the council will help you choose the right tree. Take a photo once you’ve planted it and spread the word!
More details here https://favershamtowncouncil.simplybook.it/v2/?
Faversham Trees – tree week programme
The Faversham Trees Group has created a wonderful programme of online events this year. Dates, details and registration links are below. They include Swale FoE Secretary and Press Officer Amanda Thesiger, who is giving a talk on ‘Making Inks from Trees’ on Thursday.
And don’t forget to nominate your Favourite Faversham Tree via the Facebook page. Closes on 5th December.
PROGRAMME:
Mon 30 Nov. 1-2pm. Trees in Faversham Rec, a talk by Activities Manager Ben Simon of Swale Borough Council https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82243549948...
Mon 30 Nov 7.30pm Dr Nikki Gammans talking about Gardening for Bees! To access this presentation please email Tim and Gillian Ingram on coptonash@yahoo.co.uk
Tue 1 Dec - for one day only - go and see the tree labels all around Faversham Rec. Organised by Ben Simon and Lewis Monger of Swale Borough Council.
Tue 1 Dec 7.30pm Helping the eels in Faversham - a talk by Matthew Hatchwell, former director of conservation at London Zoological Society, who has led a project to get our eels back up into fresh water. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85861208883...
Wed 2 Dec 7.30pm Virtual Guided Tree Walk in Faversham by David Carey of the Kent Tree & Pond Wardens group, & Hadlow College. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86564813890...
Thu 3 Dec 7.30pm. Making Inks from Trees. By Amanda Thesiger, local artist, back by popular demand . https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88034349350...
Fri 4 Dec 7.30pm Traditional Wood-meadow landscapes, by Dan Carne of the WoodMeadow Trust . https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87522610581...
Sat and Sun 5 and 6 Dec, 10am-3pm Planting with Trees for Farms at Conyer . To take part, email Mary at: treeplantersa1@gmail.com. This is an event suitable for families, under strict distancing and hygiene rules. Please say what hours you could do, whether you can dig, plant, take photos, or help in some other way.
AND FINALLY … KEEP UP THE POLITICAL PRESSURE
Trees play an incredible role in combating climate chaos by removing planet-wrecking emissions from the air around us. Despite their importance, just 13% of the UK’s total land area has tree cover (compared to an EU average of 35%). We believe one of the best solutiosn is to double UK forest, but government targets currently fall well short.
Ask the government to double tree cover - sign our petition
