As part of its ongoing commitment to the Somerset Tree Strategy,  the Council is asking people to use the awareness week as a chance to think about trees and take action to enhance our local environment and strengthen community bonds.

Volunteers can join the Green Rangers on 27 November at Wilstock and Stockmoor Country Park near Bridgwater to remove tree guards on existing established trees and plan for a new orchard.

If you are interested in getting involved, email countryside@somerset.gov.uk. No experience is needed. The event is open to all ages and will be a great opportunity to connect with fellow nature enthusiasts, learn about the importance of trees, and contribute to our collective effort to be a greener more sustainable county.

The council’s own staff and volunteers will be involved in several initiatives during Tree Week.

These include a tree planting day at Rockwell Green Wellington with the Woodland Trust, part of a plan to plant 3,000 native trees through the Woodland Trust’s Morewoods Scheme.

The Council’s tree officers will also support Herne School in Ilminster, planting a dense copse of 250 trees in a wet and normally unusable playing field area. Thanks go to Carbon Aware Productions for funding this project.

And on 27 November, the Council’s rangers and volunteers will plant 100 meters of native hedgerow at Ham Hill, ideal for hazel dormice. Once established, the new hedgerow will allow dormice to move between woodlands, ensuring genetic diversity.

Throughout the year the Council is working with the Woodland Trust which is offering free trees to schools and community groups to be delivered for planting in March. Applications are expected to close in January, or sooner depending on stock availability. To apply for free trees visit the Woodland Trust’s Free trees for schools and communities page.

If you have planted trees or are planning to, join the Root for Somerset initiative and be part of our mission to make Somerset’s trees count. Register your new trees on the Council’s Somerset Tree Planting Register.

Your contribution celebrates the collective effort and helps track important tree planting goals. The county’s tree cover is currently at 8% and needs to be at least the 13% national average.

Whether you are planting in a garden, on a farm, in a community space, or part of a large organisation planting 1,000’s of trees, we can make them all count for Somerset.

Need advice on tree planting?

Contact the Council’s Woodland Creation Team at woodlandcreation@somerset.gov.uk. These experts will guide you through the process and give advice on the best tree species for your location.

Councillor Graham Oakes, Lead member for Public Health, Environment and Climate Change said:

Planting trees is a simple yet powerful way to contribute to a healthier environment and a greener more sustainable Somerset.

Trees play a crucial role in absorbing carbon dioxide, improving air quality, and providing habitats for wildlife. By planting trees now, we can ensure that our beautiful county remains vibrant and sustainable for generations to come.