National Tree Week marked in rural Rutland communities

This week is National Tree Week (25 November - 3 December), and groups across Rutland are marking the occasion.

National Tree Week is the UK's largest annual tree celebration. Each year, the country's conservation sector, volunteer groups and tree-lovers come together to plant thousands of trees to mark the start of the tree planting season.

A spokesperson from The Tree Council, who host the annual tree planting celebration, said: "This year's National Tree Week is extra special as it marks the 50th anniversary of the famous 'Plant a Tree in 73' campaign – from which National Tree Week (and The Tree Council) was born!"

Rutland's rural community enjoys access to green spaces. Image credit: Paul Jones.

Last weekend, ahead of National Tree Week, the Harborough Woodland Community Volunteers planted a new free wood near Belton in Rutland.

Volunteers spent the day planting in Rutland on Saturday, giving their "thanks to a brilliant landowner" who made the planting session possible.

In the hopes of spreading the word about what they do, and getting more volunteers involved with the tree planting movement, they took to social media with an appeal for Rutland residents to support the cause: "Is there a Rutland Woodland Community Volunteer group? We would be pleased to help and be mentors. Please email [email protected] for help as we make space for woods, water and wildlife in 3 Counties so far and share good ideas through Friends of River Welland Catchment and Natural Flood Management UK."

Rutland Climate Action has also got on board with the week's celebrations, encouraging local schools to plant trees and sharing the news about climate change action taking place in Rutland, following the return of the volunteer group of councillors and local enthusiasts on 20 November.

The group reformed at an event in Uppingham earlier this month, where they formed a plan of action and welcomed new climate warriors to the team.

Can you support Rutland Climate Action? Image credit: Nub News.

The group said: "'Climate Change' is an emphatic truth: the signs are all around us. For us Rutlanders, the signs are not perhaps as dramatic as melting polar ice caps or vast tracts of land becoming uninhabitable as temperatures soar but nonetheless there are tell – tale signs: reduced insect population, fewer bats, swifts and hedgehogs in our villages and more 'unusual' weather patterns. What is clear though, the human species needs to take action, collectively to halt the changes if we are to ensure a planet that is robust and future proof for all.

"Rutland Climate Action has developed a plan to help us all to do our bit. This is written by the community, for the community. The plan will be reviewed annually, up -dated – used as a working document if you will. Successes will be celebrated; next steps identified but above all we will all know that we work together for the common good – the good of the future generations."

Green spaces across Rutland are being removed for development, and planted by climate-passionate volunteers. Image credit: Nub News.

Rutland Climate Action aims to:

Build connections: One Rutland
Engage with the whole community, raising awareness
Educate and signpost to enable the community to make informed and beneficial choices
Measure success by monitoring and evaluating actions taken
Ensure that 'stakeholder' status is achieved: a united voice will provide evidence-based opinion on policy both at a local and a national government level

As a part of this, they are encouraging local schools to plant trees. Find out how to get involved in this initiative online.

On Monday 4 December, the group is also supporting Climate Literacy Day.