The Local Somerset Region of the Jaguar Enthusiast Club agree to take up the challenge to help their local environment.
After searching for local partners to take this initiative forward, we settled on partnering with a tree planting project set up by the group “The Reimagining the Levels” based in Somerset and run by an enthusiastic group of local volunteers.
This initiative also coincides with The Queens Canopy which will create a network of individual trees, avenues, corpses and whole woodlands in honour of The Queen’s service and the legacy she has built.
It was agreed by all those present at our recent AGM to set aside a third of our regions subs to purchase trees and set up a group of volunteers. We now have a dedicated WhatsApp group of volunteers wishing to be involved with the planting.
The Somerset region of the JEC was proud to join the local team of volunteer’s from Reimaging the Levels on Saturday 11th December where we joined 19 other volunteers many of which were regulars to the team. The site was a second phase at Pitney which is set in beautiful part of Somerset, it was a delight to be involved with such an enthusiastic and welcoming group on our first planting event.
The morning started with a short but comprehensive briefing and demonstration from Kate and Phil for those of us who had not planted before and John and Francesca provided a warming fire, coffee and homemade mince pies. The 300+ trees and shrubs were planted with love and care and should now survive into maturity.
The verity of trees was amazing from Maple, Rowan, Hazel, Dogrose to name a few removing the turf form around the area where the tree was to be planted certainly required a skill and was definitely the hardest part, Selecting the tree and locating its position gave a little time to catch our breath before planting the tree whip in the ground and fixing the protective tube.
The original trees that filled the area many of them oaks which had been their hundreds for years had all been removed at the end of World War one to make good farming land for food production,
With the increasing enthusiasm from our members, we now have 12 signed up for our next outing to support the next project which is planting 400 trees and shrubs in Shepton mallet on 22nd January
We are really excited to be taking up this challenge and we look forward to seeing the results of our efforts
- Increase the % of woodland area in and around the levels
- Provide additional habitat helping to sustain the eco system
- Help absorb surface water
- Help reduce soil erosion as the trees help stabilise the soil with their root systems
- Provided fully mature trees for the future benefit of our children that will continue to absorb CO²
- Illustrate that as JEC Somerset Region we care about our local environment
- It will provide opportunity for members to meet up outside the club environment for enjoyable social days out, learning from some of the experts on planting and managing trees.
- It will help increase our knowledge of the wild life and their habitats.
The devastating effects of the floods in 2013/14 to individuals, communities, the economy and the environment demonstrated the pressing need for a more joined-up approach that looks at the causes and solutions to flooding across the entire catchment. The world’s changing climate poses a critical challenge to the people and landscape of Somerset.