| Dear Croft Parish,
The new year brought Storm Éowyn, which damaged many trees, including Glasgow’s Darnley Sycamore – a tree designated as one of our ‘Heritage Trees’ in the early 2000s for its cultural, historical and ecological significance.
Ancient and impressive sycamores are usually found in Scotland and the north of England, where the species thrives so well some ecologists suggested it should be renamed the Celtic Maple. The Darnley Sycamore is an ancient tree that once grew in the outskirts of Glasgow but is now integrated into the city’s treescape. Linked to Mary Queen of Scots and her husband Lord Darnley, this important heritage tree beautifully connects Scottish history and the environment, in modern day Glasgow. It’s fantastic news that reports from Glasgow City Council suggest that, with careful management, this beloved tree should survive the damage inflicted by Storm Éowyn, and will continue to provide a living link to Scotland’s past. Find out more |
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| Jon Stokes, Director of Trees, Science & Research |
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| Announcing our Story in Nature 2025 young winners |
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| Following another record-breaking year of entries to our Story in Nature competition for young writers, delivered with The Week Junior Science+Nature, we are very excited to announce this year’s winners! This year’s stories and poems were brimming with love for nature, hope for the future and dedication to make a difference for the natural world. |
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| Donate your Yeokens to The Tree Council! |
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| We are excited to be named as one of Yeo Valley’s three chosen charities for the first quarter of this year (January-March), as part of its ‘Yeoken’ programme. The charity that secures the most Yeokens will receive a £1,500 donation!
All you have to do is collect Yeokens from purchased Yeo Valley products, sign up for a Yeoken account, and then donate your Yeokens to The Tree Council on the Yeo Valley website. |
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| The Tree Council and Network Rail award-winning community planting partnership renewed for five years |
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| The Tree Council and Network Rail’s award-winning partnership, which has already planted more than 350,000 saplings, in 180 communities, to date, has been renewed for an additional five-year period.
The new agreement sees Network Rail pledge £1.2m towards tree establishment and care across three Network Rail regions in England – Eastern, Northwest and Central, and Southern – along with the company’s national Route Services function. The Tree Council will support local authorities, community groups, and other conservation organisations to establish trees, hedgerows, and orchards, especially focusing on projects with a strong social impact. |
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| New Tree Warden Network for Blackpool |
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| Team Tree Council’s Sam and Annie happily braved the snowy weather this month for the official launch of Blackpool’s Tree Warden Network. Intrepid Tree Wardens met at Stanley Park for an induction from The Tree Council and to hear about upcoming tree planting and training in the area, including street tree planting across several sites and the creation of new community orchards. Learn more about The Tree Council’s Tree Warden Scheme below. |
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| Sandi’s Great British Woodland Restoration | Channel 4 |
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| This refreshingly honest insight into woodland management and restoration reveals some of the challenges (and costs!) involved. The show features a cast of experts advising Sandi on tree works, pond creation and deer management. Sandi grapples with problems like fly-tipping, but this is balanced out by uplifting moments, such as the release of rescued wildlife. It’s well worth a watch!
Recommended by our Science & Action Research Manager, Jess. |
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| It looks like our Head of Major Planting & Ecology Projects, Ian, stumbled upon an Ent during his visit to Chirk Castle in Wrexham!
This is a beautiful ancient sweet chestnut tree that was shortlisted for Tree of the Year in 2020 and has been named in the list of Trees of National Special Interest (TNSI).
Photo by Ian Turner |
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| Win a copy of Oaklore by Jules Acton |
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| The Tree Council and Action Oak have teamed up to give away two copies of writer and environmentalist Jules Acton’s debut book. The perfect read for nature lovers and bookworms alike, Oaklore unveils how the mighty oak tree has shaped and influenced English literature, culture, and history.
A charming and whimsical exploration of one of England’s most important trees, Oaklore invites readers to embark on a journey of discovery, unveiling the role of oaks in English literature and mythology, and the myriad of life that thrives within the branches and bark of these ancient trees.
To be in with a chance of winning a copy, tell us what the seed of an oak tree is called – a haw, an acorn, or a key? |
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| Competition closes at midnight on Sunday 16 February 2025. T&Cs apply. |
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| In this month’s Tree Talk, Centre for Alternative Technology MSc researcher Sue Moore delves into the barriers facing the UK’s ambitious tree and woodland establishment targets. Tree Project Officer for Chichester District Council, Sophie Hamnett, also shares early indications from our research into the survival rates of free and subsidised trees provided to local residents by local authorities.
Subscribe to receive Tree Talk directly into your inbox. |
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