December: Steyning for Trees
The Autumn/winter RSPB Magazine talks about the worrying decreases in abundance and distribution of many species as evidenced in the latest State of Nature report produced by data from more than 50 nature conservation organisations.But they also highlighted the ways we can tackle the many threats nature faces from human activity. One of these is to strengthen ecosystem restoration and expand protected areas. These areas at present represent 11% of UK land and most are not currently in a favourable condition. Hence the importance of projects like The Lost Woods
We, at SFT, are supporting the increase and the re-naturing of open spaces around town working with the residents at Shooting Field planting trees and mini copses, allowing the grass to grow under the trees. This will soon be repeated at Thornscroft (where a stag beetle was seen). Many thanks to the managing agents for giving SFT permission to do this.
The WSCC land parallel to the by-pass at Canons Way where we have planted SFT trees and cut paths through the natural renewal going on there which is developing into another valuable area for wildlife.
We are so pleased to be working with Shona Halsall and her family again when planting a copse there a few years back with their help. They are turning the field over to nature completely which will be a great asset for biodiversity in Steyning.
We are donating some whips of various tree types to help keep a good mix supporting some of the endangered species that need specialist habitats and trees.
We are also pleased to be working with Beeding Primary School with their hedge planting project and Elfi Gloster again who has previously been such a help to the SDS. We have been carefully choosing suitable tree types, not prickly, or poisonous, no allergies, we want to be careful with the next generation but also to encourage them to understand the wonderful advantages planting trees give us.
Such as sequestering carbon, providing cooling via transpiration, beautifying our town and as hedges providing homes, food, wildlife pathways for creatures great and small, flowers for pollinators and ecosystems providing for every breath we take and hopefully, for those children's future.
A HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND NATURE FILLED NEW YEAR TO YOU ALL.