Nick Baker plants 40,000th tree for Moor Trees
Devon conservation charity, Moor Trees, celebrated the planting of 40,000 native trees on Saturday 26 November 2011 at a special ceremony led by Nick Baker, naturalist and TV presenter.
Over 30 volunteers and staff were on hand on the edge of Dartmoor to take part and listen to Mr Baker talk about the value of native trees and their place in our culture and history. He pointed out that England was one of the least wooded countries in Europe and we are at risk of losing the distinctive wildlife of natural oak woodland if no more are being planted to replace those lost. He also noted the tremendous value of trees in a time of climate change and praised Moor Trees as an example of communities taking action.
Since it began creating native woodland in 2001, Moor Trees has planted broadleaf trees on over 100 acres around Dartmoor and the South Hams. Volunteers turn out on Sundays throughout the winter months to plant oaks, ash, rowan and other local species, grown especially in nurseries at Dartington and near Diptford from seed collected in the area.
Director Graham Burton said: ‘At the start of National Tree week it seems appropriate to be planting this oak tree as a mark of our success over the last ten years. It is a great tribute to our volunteers and all the landowners who have worked with us that we have reached this milestone. We now want to move forward and create even more native woodland, so if there are any landowners in the Dartmoor and South Hams areas that would like to establish their own legacy of native forest we would be very pleased to help.’
