Visitors of all ages will be able to learn more about the vital role of trees in tackling climate change and helping nature thrive as a new Forest for Cornwall centre opens at Heartlands this week.
The Forest for Cornwall Tree and Nature Hub is being launched on December 1 during National Tree Week.
The free, interactive exhibition space will be officially opened by Cllr Martyn Alvey, Cornwall’s cabinet member for environment and climate change, and Rosie Walker, regional external affairs officer at the Woodland Trust.
To mark the occasion volunteers will be planting 122 trees in the grounds of the free Heartlands attraction in Pool.
The launch is one of a series of events and activities taking place in Cornwall this week during the country’s largest annual celebration of tree-planting marking the start of the winter planting season.
Community groups, farmers, landowners, businesses and individuals are being encouraged to help plant trees for the Forest for Cornwall to absorb carbon emissions, boost nature recovery and improve the places where people live.
Since 2019 more than 450,000 trees have been put in the ground in parks, woodland, farms, streets and gardens to contribute to the forest for one and all.
Cllr Alvey said:
“As we mark National Tree Week we are celebrating the opening of our new Forest for Cornwall Tree and Nature Hub for anyone who would like to learn more about the incredible role trees play not only in fighting climate change but in helping biodiversity, improving air quality, acting as natural flood defences and also as community amenities for transforming the places we live.
“Come and find out more at this free attraction and look out for the many activities taking place across Cornwall this week to help plant trees for our forest for one and all.”
Forest for Cornwall Tree and Nature Hub is hosted by Cornwall Council with support from the Woodland Trust’s Emergency Tree Fund.
Find out more about the Woodland Trust’s Emergency Tree FundIt will be open to all with no admission charge from 9am to 4.30pm every weekday except bank holidays, starting Thursday, December 1.
Rosie Walker said:
“Woods and trees are essential, for people, wildlife and life. The Woodland Trust is very pleased to be part of the Forest for Cornwall, helping to plant trees and ensure that Cornwall’s woods thrive. “The hub is a great place for everyone to come to learn more about trees and woods. It is excellent timing that it is opening in National Tree Week, at the start of the planting season. I look forward to meeting lots of people interested in trees and talking about how you can get involved.”
The Forest for Cornwall hub sits alongside the Council’s South West Climate Change Centre which looks at the causes of the climate emergency, the need for flood prevention and resilience and why everyone needs to take action to lower their carbon footprint.
South West Climate Change CentreOther events during National Tree Week
- An information session on new funding and support available for landowners and farmers through the Defra-funded Forest for Cornwall Woodland Creation PartnershipThe event will show how trees can be planted alongside existing farming and land management practices, bringing biodiversity, climate change mitigation and financial benefits.
- RAF St Mawgan is planting 370 fruit trees and 10 Sequoias to contribute to the Queen’s Green Canopy scheme and Forest for Cornwall.
- Community consultation on tree-planting at Trelawney Estate, Penzance, with the Forest for Cornwall team and housing association LiveWest.
- For residents wanting to plant a tree in their garden there is a free tree giveaway taking place as part of the Woodland Trust-funded Forest for My Place Back Garden Forest scheme. Town and parish councils in seven locations are giving away a sapling for residents to collect and grow in their own garden. All people need is a bag to carry the sapling home and they will be given an instruction sheet on how to plant and look after their tree.
Locations are:
- Redruth:Redruth Community Centre, Sat 3 Dec, 10am-midday
- Camborne:Camborne Town Council offices at Basset House, Sat 3 Dec, 1.30pm-3pm
Please contact groups below for dates and times:
- Mevagissey: 3Bays Wildlife Groupinfo@threebayswildlife.co.uk
- Treverbyn: Treverbyn Community Hallinfo@thehall.org.uk 0172858657
- Ladock: Lower Carbon Ladock sherriffnichola@gmail.com
- Helston: Helston Climate Action / Forest for Helston forestforhelston@gmail.com, Home - Helston Climate Action Group(use contact us page)
- St. Austell: Climate Action St Austell staustellclimateaction@gmail.com
- Eighty-five free hazel trees are being gifted from Newlyn Art Gallery to residents on December 9 from 2pm to 6.30pm. The initiative is part of the Gwelen artwork from the EXPERIENCE project in collaboration with the Forest for Cornwall. Gwelen is a site-specific artwork which reimagines the ancient, submerged forest hidden in Mount’s Bay and features on the Penzance to Marazion coastal path. Hazel was a common species in the submerged forest and is an ideal tree to plant in a garden. Call in to collect your free tree and growing advice. Trees will be given out on a first-come, first-served basis, one per person.
National Tree Week is an initiative started by the Tree Council to build awareness of the difference planting trees can make to the planet, whether you plant one tree in a pot on your doorstep, a hedge in your garden or residential area, an orchard as part of a community event at a local park, or on a larger scale.
Find out more about National Tree Week
Notes for Editors
The Forest for Cornwall is supported through the Government’s circa £750 million Nature for Climate Fund. Trees are at the forefront of the UK Government’s plans to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The England Trees Action Plan has committed to treble tree planting rates in England by the end of this Parliament reflecting England’s contribution to meeting the UK’s overall target of planting 30,000 hectares per year by the end of this Parliament.
