Devon Branch

International Tree Foundation - Devon Branch

Please contact the Branch Chair Annabel Branney (or phone her on 01392 841826) with any queries on our events or matters for the committee.

The Devon Branch carries out a varied programme of events and activities throughout the year, including working with schools and tree planting in many parts of the County. If you are interested in trees and would like to join us please do contact Annabel and we shall be delighted to meet you.

This year we are continuing our tree planting in schools to provide their grounds with much needed trees - some for shade and some for wildlife. Site visits are carried out in summer, followed up with tree identification surveys with the children and tree planting in the autumn. Talks about trees and advice on planting are all part of the schools programme.

Our branch works closely with the Family Tree Scheme site at Escot Park and are delighted with the support it has received since its opening. We are also closely associated with the Pet's Memorial Garden, in Lewdown, North Devon, opened by Susan Hampshire, Vice President of ITF.

As well as UK tree planting, we actively support 2 overseas projects. In Kenya, the Mount Kenya Organic Farm (MOOF), was set up in 1999 to promote, train and carry out farm trials on sustainable and organic agricultural systems. The primary objective is to improve the living standards of Kenyan smallholders by growing trees. Seeds from the indigenous trees are collected and raised in the tree nursery then the seedlings are sold cheaply to the local community. the seedlings are also planted in the areas of the Kenyan and Abadares Forest, both very denuded of trees over recent years. This has proved a very successful programme with many hundreds of Kenyans spreading the message of the importance of trees in their country.

The other project is at Lui, in the extreme south of Sudan, near the Ugandan border. Here fruit trees are planted with the local people to provide them with fruit and fodder. The next stage is the Wanda Project where a mixture of indigenous trees with be planted on land previously overgrazed by cattle. These trees will improve the soil and later provide medicines, timber and shade as well as more fruit.

News of the Heavitree Yew in Exeter

This tree was chosen in 1950 as one of the Great British Trees of Great Britain and is now under threat. This yew grows in Heavitree Churchyard and was thought to be the meeting place of Saxon Kings. They held their court under the tree, where the spirit of the tree, being impartial, made sure all judgments were fair and just. But unfortunately it has now become a meeting place for smokers of various substances and there is a real danger of fire to the ancient tree.

So it was decided to take cuttings to try and raise a replacement as an insurance. But getting cuttings to root from such an ancient tree proved difficult. However finally after 18 months of trials, Christopher Trimmer working at Knighthayes, a National Trust Property, has managed to get one to grow well. This will be kept to use as a stock plant from which future replacements can be taken. Several others have rooted but are only a few centimetres high at the moment.

Waiting for 18 months is a mere trifle in the life of the tree and was definitely worth the wait to get such a positive result. For more details please email Annabel Branney.

Support for our work in any form is always welcome. Why not join us now.

International Tree Foundation is a charitable company limited by guarantee. Registered in England No. 5219549.
Registered Office: International Tree Foundation, Sandy Lane, Crawley Down, West Sussex, RH10 4HS

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