Climate change: Dane Valley campaigners plant 9,000 trees

Dane Valley Climate Action Group has planted thousands of trees since forming in 2019

A founding member of a climate campaign group which has planted about 9,000 trees said he was doing his bit to "fix" the planet for his grandchildren.

David Brain and members of the Dane Valley Climate Action Group (DVCAG) are set to plant 200 saplings on the western fringes of the Peak District National Park.

The group has planted in over 50 places south of Macclesfield since 2019.

Mr Brain said he wanted to do "something worthwhile".

The Dane Valley Climate Action Group (DVCAG) is one of an increasing number of local groups which formed in the past few years over concerns about the climate crisis.

It was co-founded in 2019 by Julian Ruddock, who said he was determined to reduce his carbon footprint.

"The reasons we started the group was to raise awareness locally and to campaign about the climate and the nature crisis which are affecting the whole world," he said.

There are around 14 regular volunteers for the group who often head out twice weekly to plant trees in the area.

Mr Brain said: "It gives me a sense of doing something worthwhile.

"The planet is under threat from climate change, the UK is under threat from the loss of biodiversity.

"I have grandchildren and I suppose I'm part of the generation that inadvertently messed things up and so I'm doing what I can in the later stages of life to fix it for my grandchildren, really."

Mr Brain says they raise most of the funding for the tree planting themselves. Many of the saplings are donated for free but there are overheads.

The trees need to be enclosed in a biodegradable tube "to stop the rabbits and deer having a nibble", he said.

At £2.68 per tube, the costs soon add up.

'Conservation corridors'

So how do they know where to plant the trees?

It is often word of mouth and local landowners get in touch and ask if the group might be free to carry out the planting on their land.

A key word in the world of modern conservation is "corridors".

Trees, hedges, meadows and ponds are being created between more established woodland to create continuity and a more dense area where wildlife can thrive.

While the core group is made up of a handful of locals, it is often joined by others who help on an ad hoc basis.

Staff from a local jewellery firm are helping to plant trees.

John Pass Jewellers in Crewe is 75 years old, and its employees are carrying out 75 acts of kindness.

Stephen Parsons, from John Pass Jewellers, said: "When you look around and look at what we have planted... two hundred and odd trees.

"It's got to do some good, hasn't it? It's great.

"One of my colleagues says she wants to come back and see how these trees are doing.

"She thinks it's almost like adopting an animal at the zoo. She wants to know how they are surviving."

'Make a difference'

In many ways, that is what is at the heart of what these groups do.

They want a stake in their environment, they want to see it change and grow. They wanted to make a difference and they want to see the difference they make.

Mr Ruddock said the group wanted to do practical things to enhance nature.

As well as tree planting, it has a list of causes including increasing wetlands and ponds and promoting energy conservation and renewable energy generation.

After just two hours, the trees are planted and the talk turns to where they should head next with their shovels, protective tubes and saplings.

The next tree planting session is just a couple of days away.

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