National Tree Week (26 November – 5 December 2022) is the UK’s largest annual tree
celebration.
A range of events are taking place in Torbay during National Tree Week. Torbay Council is
working together with Treeconomics, SWISCo, Saving Devon’s Treescapes, Hi-Line, the Tree
Council, Shekinah Grow to promote the events and encourage participation locally.
Trees play an important role in Torbay’s work to tackle climate change and create a carbon neutral
Torbay. Benefits of trees include absorbing and storing carbon emissions, improving air
quality, helping keep our homes cool, helping to reduce flood risk, and much more.
Activities for the public during National Tree Week include tree planting events at Westerland
Valley, a tree giveaway event at St Mary’s Park in Brixham and tree ‘rehoming’ events for those
who have unwanted trees so these can be dropped off to be ‘rehomed’ as part of Torbay Council’s
commitment to getting the right tree in the right place.
During National Tree Week, Torbay will also be publishing its new i-Tree report which shows how
tree canopy cover has changed across the Bay over the past decade. This is a joint report by
Treeconomics, Torbay Council and SWISCo and local Tree Warden volunteers have also got
Involved in helping complete the survey.
The report will first of all be presented to local Tree Warden volunteers before being made public.
Leader of Torbay Council Steve Darling said: “National Tree Week is a fantastic opportunity for
people in Torbay to connect with nature and recognise the benefits of trees. So please do get
involved with one of the local events, or why not think about joining our volunteer Tree Warden
scheme?
“It’s also an opportunity for us to thank our local Tree Warden volunteers for what they’ve done so
far, and we also look forward to publishing the i-Tree report for Torbay. This will help us plan
where future trees can be planted, along with the feedback Tree Wardens already gave us at a
series of local workshops last year.”
Councillor Mike Morey, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Environment and Culture for Torbay
Council said: “In 2019 Torbay Council declared a climate emergency and trees are a key element
to helping tackle climate change.
“It’s one of a number of measures we are bringing in to help the planet including new solar farms,
encouraging more walking and cycling and electric vehicle charging points, increasing recycling
rates and tackling fuel poverty.
“We launched our Carbon Neutral Council Action Plan earlier this year and in December we will be
consulting with our partners on the new Torbay Climate Partnership Action Plan, so watch this
space.”
Activities the Tree Wardens in Torbay been involved within Torbay so far include: – supporting the COVID Memorial Tree Trail (working with Torbay Green Spaces Forum); – planting new trees around the perimeter of Galmpton Football Club; – planting a Jubilee Tree at Babbacombe.
– Tree Warden volunteers have also participated in workshops to identify where trees could potentially be planted in Torbay, and, working with Treeconomics and SWISCo, supported the new i-Tree tree canopy survey which compares tree canopy cover now with ten years ago.
Events taking place during Tree Week
Date time and venue Event Organiser Public event? Contact
Saturday 26 November
Westerland Valley, 2pm Tree planting Groundwork South Yes Emily Tyack, Groundwork South Emily.tyack@groundwork.org.uk
Tuesday 29 November
St Mary’s Park, Brixham, 2pm to 5pm Tree giveaway event Also, Tree ‘rehoming’ event – bring Saving Devon’s Treescapes Yes Jasmine Atkinson jatkinson@devonwildlifetrust.org Hannah Worthington, SWISCo (Tree rehoming event) Hannah.worthington@swisco.co.uk your unwanted trees
Wednesday 30 November,
4pm, Westerland Valley Tree planting Also, Tree ‘rehoming’, event – bring your unwanted trees Groundwork South Yes Emily Tyack, Groundwork South (tree planting) Emily.tyack@groundwork.org.uk Hannah Worthington, SWISCo (Tree rehoming event) Hannah.worthington@swisco.co.uk
Wednesday 30 November,
Blue Walnut Cafe Tree Week reception event for Tree Wardens at Blue Walnut Café and cinema Treeconomics, SWISCo and Torbay Council No – Tree Warden, invite only N/A – Tree Warden invite only. If you want to join the Tree Wardens scheme email TreeWarden@torbay.gov.uk
Thursday 1 December
Publication of i-Tree report today (to be published on Treeconomics and Torbay Council websites. Treeconomics, SWISCo and Torbay Council N/A Chris Gomm chris.gomm@torbay.gov.uk Nadine Moreby nadine@treeconomics.co.uk
Saturday 3 December,
Cricketfield Community Garden, 11am to 2pm Tree re-homing’ drop off point at Cricketfield Community Garden SWISCo Yes Hannah Worthington, SWISCo H
