A Commons for Trees.
If you’re here, you know how important trees are.
The commons is a space for people who care for trees to connect and exchange with each other, whether you’re new to tree planting, or running an established community project in the High Peak and Hope Valley. Read on to see the offers and asks people are making into the commons for trees, and who is caring for trees in the area.
A commons for trees. Why now?
People have been growing and planting trees locally for many years - and yet there is still room to do more, together.
Some projects need more trees, tools or training. Others have these to offer. People new to tree planting are asking for an easier way to find out how to get involved.
A commons for trees can start to create a network of communities working together as guardians for a new generation of trees.
A commons for trees is space for collaboration.
Current Offers & Asks.
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OFFER: Fruit tree grafting workshop.
Date: Thursday 12th March 10.30am-1.30pm
Location: The Beeches, Bamford
Join the National Trust and Sheffield Fruit Trees for a morning of apple grafting
Learn the basics of grafting and why it’s used, and graft your own young apple tree to take home. You’ll get practical advice to help it establish successfully. Suitable for beginners.
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ASK: Help plant trees.
Dates: Thursday 26th February, Wednesday 4th March, Thursday 5th March and Saturday 7th March
Location: Horwich Farm, Whaley Bridge
A local farmer is putting in over 700 metres of new hedgerow which will provide shade and shelter for his livestock, improve the soil health and provide a wildlife corridor.
To take part, register using the link below.
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OFFER: Five-year old saplings FTAGH.
Dates: Ongoing, as soon as possible
Location: Thornbridge Outdoors, Longstone
A large number of mixed native saplings, planted 5 years ago, need to be moved from land owned by Thornbridge Outdoors and are on offer to anyone who can give them a good home.
To give these trees a home, or find out more, click on the button below.
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ASK: Help care for The Beeches garden and orchard.
Date: Saturday 21st Feb/Saturday 28th March
Location: The Beeches, Bamford
Join The Beeches community in Bamford to revive their community garden and tend to the woodland space.
In return, you'll be nourished by a delicious lunch, sharing stories and laughter with others. Expect a warm and inclusive space for people of all backgrounds to get involved.
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OFFER: Tree care tool share.
Date: Ongoing from March
Location: Across the Hope Valley
If you are caring for trees and need tools for a community work day, 10 Trees community garden and the National Trust are collaborating to set up a simple tool share for the valley - from spades to saws and loppers, enough for a small group of volunteers.
To borrow tools, or find out more, click on the button below.
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ASK: Grow trees from seed.
Date: Ongoing
Location: 10 Trees community garden, Bamford/in your own space
10 Trees community garden in Bamford has a beautiful new community tree nursery and growing space, built in partnership with the National Trust - and we’re looking for help to care for it.
If you’re interested, or you want to grow trees in your own time and space, please get in touch.
Have an offer or ask that you’d like to add to the commons?
Contact the 10 Trees team at hello@10trees.co. We’re looking after the commons in its early days.
Who cares for trees in the Hope Valley and High Peak?
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Hope Valley Climate Action (HVCA)’s Land Group has led many tree-planting collaborations with groups across the valley - including planting a tree for everyone living in the valley, creating 2.4km of new hedgerows and most recently planting Overdale Forest near Bretton. Find out more
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Grindleford Tree Planting Group are working on a variety of projects, including Pippin Wood by the village playing fields. Contact Paul for more details
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The Beeches is a 12-acre property in Bamford with an extensive orchard and growing space that is being stewarded into collective ownership as a thriving social centre and ecological sanctuary. Find out more
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Bradwell Community Orchard project cares for a community of around 40 fruit trees in the village of Bradwell, for the benefit of the community.
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The National Trust have planted hundreds of thousands of trees over the last ten years across the Peak District. They have recently launched a new community growing project to grow trees and plants for the Peak District, in partnership with the People’s Postcode Lottery. Find out more
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10 Trees is a new community garden in Bamford with a diverse collection of semi-mature trees and a community tree nursery. Community work days take place on Wednesdays and Fridays. Find out more
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TDEG is a group of local residents who are trying to learn more about how to protect and improve our local and global environment, and work together on practical projects to improve our communities. More about our current projects here - https://tdeg.org.uk/wildlife .
Our Wildlife Group has carried out several tree and hedge planting schemes around our area (which covers Tideswell, Litton, Cressbrook, Wheston, and further afield), working with other landowners, and our local cubs and scouts. We planted around 650 trees for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee a few years ago.
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This is just a snapshot of the work going on to care for trees in the valley. If you want to add information about your group, please contact us.
Why do we need more trees?
Trees lend the unique landscape of the Peak District a special seasonal beauty, connecting us with the rhythms of the natural world. They also quietly provide life’s necessities to both people and wildlife - whether that’s food and shelter or clean air and water. We’re running short of all of these things - and trees offer us an exchange: to meet our own needs in meeting theirs, for a mutual flourishing.
In the past, we would have lived much more closely with trees. Woodland would have covered much of the valley floor and crept up the hillsides and cloughs. Now, the Peak District has less than 10% tree cover. The valleys and hillsides of the High Peak and Hope Valley need to provide more homes for trees - the right tree for the right place - to restore this balance.