Planting

We have helped to plant over 500 fruit, nut and broadleaf trees at Pennymoor in Devon this year. These trees will form a public access woodland, provide produce for the local market and increase bio-diversity on the farm. Pennymoor is already particularly diverse, containing species such as tufted hair-grass, wild rose, self-heal, marsh thistle, foxglove, bracken, hogweed,  brambles, ferns and wild strawberries, with opposite-leaved golden saxifrage present in the wet areas. All trees have been planted to enhance and increase the current situation.

Education

Simeon and Miranda are teaching a course in Tree studies to a group of year 5 students at Kenmont Primary school in central London. We aim to interest the chidren in nature through the use of stories and mythology. Many children it seems are far more interested in which tree is considered best for witch burning ( Ash by the way ) rather than which tree has alternate leaves. We make collages, paintings, write poetry and songs. By a process of osmosis the children learn to recognise which tree is which and have at least one informative and interesting story to share about that tree with friends and relations. We finish the 6 week course at Kenmont school with the children conducting a tree walk around the local park, an art exhibition in the school hall and a song written by the children performed at school assembly.

The children are also compiling a book about trees and mythology which will be available for the rest of the school via the school library.

To see some of the childrens work click on the pictures below.

The course encompasses ecology, religous studies, botany, design and technology, mythology, folklore, history, literature and art.

Long Orchard

Long Orchard is a beautiful piece of land, originally owned by Sir Francis Drake. In those times an orchard grew alongside the native trees of Alder, Beech,Rowan, Holly, Hornbeam, Willow, Hazel, Ash and Oak that still thrive alongside the Wibberly stream that runs through Long Orchards centre.

Primroses and bluebells grow under the shady canopy but some areas have become overgrown and brambly with the originally planted fruit trees defeated by resurgent native competition plus an array of coniferous species planted between 1957 and 1962, including Hybrid and Japanese Larch, Norway Spruce, Sitka Spruce, Douglas fir and Western Hemlock, Long Orchard is a hidden jewel in need of a polish.

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We are now managing this historic landscape, our aims are to reveal it's former glory and show how our ansectors and nature lived together in a positive symbiosis beneficial to all.

To do this we are thinning the brambles, fencing off parts of the area to encourage regeneration using traditional techniques, reintroducing the coppicing of some species (especially Hazel) bridging the stream, replanting some fruit and nut trees and protecting the butterflies, bats, wildflowers, and ferns that live there.

Tree Walks

Simeon will be conducting a mystical tree walk in Roundwood Park in London on the 21st March, 2010. If you'd like to come drop us a line.

It's free!!

NOW FULLY BOOKED

If you'd like to come on the next walk please email us at

info@twoodtrust.com

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