Nature lovers across the north are being invited to take part in an enterprising project to bring more trees into our lives.
Seeds2Trees aims to enable people of all ages, across local communities, to grow UK native trees from seed, for future use in community-focused tree planting schemes. Individuals, households, schools and other community groups are invited to apply for a batch of seeds which they will nurture into saplings.
And in Cumbria, at a community nursery near Brampton, the saplings will be collected and nurtured before moving on to their next home.
The scheme is run by Living Woods CIC, a not-for-profit community interest company which works to create, care for and connect with woodlands across the north of England. Our team helps create new woodlands and orchards, and works with land managers and communities to help them put “the right tree, in the right place, for the right reason” and create diverse and productive habitats for people and wildlife.
With more than a hundred volunteers, we look after existing woodland, working with managers and custodians to care sustainably for their woodlands and orchards. And the Seeds2Trees initiative is our major focus each autumn.
The scheme began in 2022, and the first saplings will be collected in November after two years with the growers, while a second round delivered last autumn will be collected in a year’s time. Now we want volunteers to step forward for the next round of growing.
So far we have distributed some 315 growing sets, involving around 500 volunteers, mostly in the north although a few have gone to ‘carers’ in Nottinghamshire, Devon, Berkshire and Cambridge. The sets comprise a package of 70 acorns, 30 hazel seeds, and a bundle of alder and silver birch, along with trays, netting, and month by month support.
“It’s a wonderful way to help create woodland from seeds, but the people involved are doing so much more,” says project director Lara Young. “Nurturing those seeds over two years enables them to become more connected with nature. If the saplings need a little longer, we will nurture them further in our community nursery in Cumbria. It gives people something personal and tangible to do, but it also helps them focus on how they might help future generations. And it’s giving them agency in the battle against climate change.”
From humble beginnings…
Now she and her team are looking for more tree growers to sign up to a third round starting in November. “Our community of tree growers is made up of people of all ages, backgrounds and growing experiences, within individual households, community group settings and educational establishments. Together we are growing the change we need.”
“The project is helping to grow more trees, creating woodlands, and improving the natural environment, while enabling the broader community to become part of the solution. It gives agency to people as we work together to tackle the climate and biodiversity crisis.”
Each tree grown as a part of Seeds2Trees, when planted has the potential to absorb a tonne of CO2, helping to create new woodlands that will help improve bio-diversity and the environment. The organisers are now hoping to focus on engaging further with schools, and plan to develop a new education package for next season.
“This may be a school, alternative educational provision, or home educational family, that wants to see how they can inspire their learners to be change-makers for the environment and enhance their educational and personal development through the project,” said Lara.
She said that community tree growers don’t need large gardens, and that the seed trays will take just a small space. More important is the enthusiasm that so many of their current growers are already demonstrating.
Never too young to start…
Living Woods, who have just moved their HQ to a new office at Hexham in Northumberland, have volunteers who work regularly in woodland and coppices. And they run a project called Rekindle, which produces sustainable local firewood, charcoal and coppice products like hurdles, besoms, and bows.
Volunteer grower Mike Skinner said: “I got involved with Seeds2trees as I saw it as a real chance to make a positive difference to the challenge of climate change and to put something back. In time, there will be a legacy for future generations and an increase in woodland areas, and I feel like I can make a tangible difference with my contribution.
“The project supports you with detailed instructions and everything you need to get started, and once the initial sowing is done, the trees just need a little care with watering and potting-on, which really isn’t a chore. My granddaughter helps with any weeding and counting and is learning to recognise the different leaf types of each species.”
He added: “The community aspect is growing, with like-minded volunteers working together to assemble and deliver the kits to the next round of volunteer growers. I’m really looking forward to the next stage where my saplings are planted out and am excited to find out where they will end up.”
If you’d like to know more, and offer to take part, you can sign up here: https://living-woods.org.uk/project/seeds2trees/