Trees on the Roseland

REACT tree nursery and tree planting

Why REACT became involved with tree planting…
Woodland covers less than 10% of Cornwall, below the UK average of 13%. The conservation of existing woodland and individual mature trees is vital, important for biodiversity, providing habitat corridors and absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Trees can also help stabilize soils and reduce flooding and erosion. Spending time amongst trees has also been shown to reduce stress and improve mental wellbeing.

To plant or not to plant…
While trees can help to tackle the climate and ecological emergencies REACT accepts the approach of the Forest for Cornwall project… right trees, right place for the right purpose.

The Roseland, at least in the recent past, was not a heavily wooded area and there are other habitats, which are important for biodiversity and if on undisturbed soil are also locking in carbon.  However, we recognize that there are spaces in gardens, school grounds, and corners of fields and in Cornish hedges where planting the appropriate tree or woody shrub can be beneficial.

Early days…
Starting in winter 2019/20, REACT volunteers planted trees with children from three local schools including on the ‘Wild Tribe’ field in Veryan. Initially trees were obtained from the Woodland Trust and although native these are not grown locally. We decided to create a small nursery growing trees from locally collected acorns and other seed and transplanting tiny self sown seedlings of species such as hawthorn and hazel growing e.g. alongside public footpaths and in other places on the Roseland were they would lost by routine management.

Project development…
Veryan School was happy to host the nursery on small part of their field where the small trees grow rapidly in the soil improved with sand and compost and watered and weeded by REACT volunteers.

REACT has now planted out hundreds of trees from the nursery, with further work with the schools, Parish Councils and local landowners. In winter 2023/24 our trees supplemented others planted on local National Trust land and we plan to work in partnership with the Trust again this winter.

In 2022 volunteers and friends of REACT founder Prof Richard Cochrane also planted almost 1000 trees on the family land close to Gerrans. REACT volunteers continued to monitor and maintain these trees on a site now known as Richard’s Wood.

Getting Involved….
A Chinese proverb suggests …’the best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago and the next best time is now’
REACT welcomes the support of volunteers in managing the nursery, the existing plantings and with future planting sessions.

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In November 2019 the first oak tree was planted in the 'Wild Tribe' field at Veryan Primary School.