Seed Gathering Season 2015

From 23^rd September through to 23^rd October

PUTTING DOWN ROOTS

 A strong community, just like a healthy tree, starts with solid roots. So, what better way for a community to look back to its roots, and put down fresh ones, than by coming together to grow more trees from seed?

23rd September marks the start of Seed Gathering Season 2015 – a month-long festival organised by The Tree Council, which aims to inspire people to get outside and gather, nurture and germinate tree seeds for the benefit of their neighbourhoods.

The trees that are most likely to put down the strongest roots are the ones whose seeds have been gathered from local stock. Walks in the autumn sunshine provide the perfect opportunity to collect local seeds from parks, streets, woods and hedgerows.

In addition to thinking about their local treescape and growing the trees of the future, The Tree Council is also encouraging everyone to make the most of the autumn harvest by gathering nuts, fruits and berries to eat and make into delicious autumnal treats.

If you want to be sure that you are picking and collecting the right things in the right places, you can join events that will taking place up and down the country, run by The Tree Council’s member organisations, its network of volunteer Tree Wardens and other supporters, including harvest festivals, orchard and apple days and hedgerow cookery lessons. Further information, an events map and a free poster to download can be found on The Tree Council’s website, http://www.treecouncil.org.uk.

‘Our popular Good Seed Guide is a mine of information about how to gather and sow tree seeds, whist Trees and How To Grow Them has lots more information about the trees themselves’ said Pauline Buchanan Black, director-general of The Tree Council. ‘And for the communities that want to bond over food, our Hedgerow Harvest website has recipes aplenty.  The community that plants and eats together, puts down roots together.’

For further information on Seed Gathering Season please contact (press enquiries only):

Margaret Lipscombe: 07967 201 624

Jon Stokes: 07850 389 862

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Please bear in mind that:
   • fruit is the property of the landowner, whichever side of the hedge it grows, so it should only be collected with the owner’s permission. Any collecting should be done without causing damage.
   • you need to be sure you know what you are collecting if you intend to eat it
   • if collecting with children they will need to be supervised, as many poisonous fruits and seeds are very attractive.

Foraging and recipe information can be found on www.hedgerowharvest.org.uk

2. About growing trees from seed

For tips on successful collection, germination and nurture of 46 varieties of native tree seed, ‘The Good Seed Guide’ – a booklet about collecting seeds and growing trees, with identification details – is available for £3.50 (including postage and packing)

For information about growing a wide range of common ornamental trees as well as our many native species ‘Tree and How to Grow Them’- a hardback book with colour illustrations and photographs – is also available at a special price of £10 (including postage and packing)

Both are available from The Tree Council, www.treecouncil.org.uk 

3. About The Tree Council

Environmental charity The Tree Council, founded 40 years ago, is an umbrella body for over 170 organisations working together for trees – planting, caring for and enjoying them – and a forum for tackling issues relating to trees and woods.  It focuses on making trees matter to people; more trees, of the right kind, in the right places; better care for all trees of all ages and inspiring effective action for trees. It works with its national volunteer Tree Warden Scheme and member organisations to engage people in biodiversity and environmental issues and to promote planting and conservation of trees and woods in town and country.

A major part of this is achieved through its annual Community Action Programme (see below for dates) and through supporting groups organising local events. It also operates a tree-planting grants programme for UK schools and communities to plant trees and create woodland habitats, as well as working on an agenda for change that includes the Green Monument Campaign and Hedge Tree Campaign.

 4. 2015/2016 Community Action Programme
Seed Gathering Season Wednesday 23^rd September to Friday 23^rd October 2015

PUTTING DOWN ROOTS

National Tree Week Saturday 28^th November to Sunday 6^th December 2015

ROOTED IN THE COMMUNITY

Tree Care Campaign Monday 21^st March 2016 to Wednesday 21^st September 2016

BACK TO OUR ROOTS

 Walk in the Woods month Sunday 1^st May 2016 to Tuesday 31^st May 2016

ROOTING FOR TREES