Projects to increase trees planted across Plymouth

Trees will be planted in Plymouth to tackle climate change

More than 3,500 trees will be planted across Plymouth as part of a new project.

The community tree nursery project is a volunteering programme based at Poole Farm in Plymouth.

Residents will be able to volunteer to grow trees from seeds and care for them during winter.

Jerry Griffiths, from Poole Farm, said it was a "fantastic opportunity to get the community involved in growing lots of baby trees".

More than 3,500 trees will be planted by a project in Pymouth

He said: "It all starts by getting people involved. We go out and collect seeds, we process them, and then we plant them.

"We'll grow them for two or three years until they're ready to be planted out in a planting scheme somewhere in the city to try and improve that canopy cover and green the city."

Labour councillor Tom Briars-Delve, cabinet member for environment and climate change, said: "I think we all understand being around nature and surrounded by nature is good for people's physical health, encouraging leisure and exercise but it's also essential for their mental health and wellbeing as well."

He added the project aimed to tackle climate change and create a sense of community.

'Engaging in nature'

Elsewhere in the city, the YMCA's John Kitto Centre near Manadon has planted a micro forest opposite John Kitto Community College.

It is part of an initiative for micro forests to be planted in 96 schools in Plymouth.

Plymouth City Council said the micro forests were small trees planted very densely over an area the size of a tennis court, encouraging rapid growth, improving biodiversity and in the right location, helping with flood management.

The schools incur no costs as sponsors pay for the trees and they are grown using a Japanese planting technique.  

Steve Warren-Brown, founder of SocieTree CIC, which is behind the project, said: "It's about educating children and all the advantages of engaging in nature. It's about supporting nature in the curriculum in a fun way in the environment in local schools."