I’m a great believer in doing something for nothing. One thing I do is be a member of Bristol City Council Tree Forum, where local groups can influence the way the city deals with trees. It’s a laudable forum, but sometimes I almost fall asleep with the bureaucracy and lack of oxygen.
So last week I put my feet where my mouth is and went out volunteering with the council’s Tree Bristol. They’ve planted 25000 trees since 2005, and aim to plant 10,000 new trees in all. New trees need watering and mulching and older ones need the ties holding them to their stakes loosening.
I had a great, hot sweaty time of it with Emma and Beth, Baz and Hayley, driving round in a big flat bed truck loaded with mulch and wheelbarrows. I got to see parts of Bristol I didn’t know and to appreciate that taking care of our trees is a time consuming business.
Tree Bristol needs more volunteers. They only have a small budget
Hayley and Baz loosen tree ties
and every hour of volunteer time means more money to spend on trees. Contact Emma on treebristol@bristol.gov.uk or 0117 352 5638 to volunteer.
This is great. You don’t know what someone else is up to until they tell you! It’s fascinating.
I too do things for nothing and almost feel ashamed of it. No longer!
I did not even know such a programme existed. I love the idea of helping the trees. They sure need it.
Why cut down trees – that take so long to grow – when they do far more good alive than dead?
i didnt know about this either -its great. and great that you are telling people about it.
what would our city be like without trees ? awful.
they change the whole feel of a place.
and boy, do i appreciate them for shade in this very hot weather.
i think we should have fruit and nut trees on every street.xxx