u3a: Clive Brace says ''we've smashed' the target of 5000 trees
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A charity is on track to finish planting a whopping 10,000 trees against climate change before Christmas in an anniversary woodland in the Brecon Beacons, on the side of the Sugar Loaf. Planted on former, exhausted agricultural land, the new woodland — which covers some six hectares, or around 16 football pitches — will celebrate 40 years of the University of the Third Age (u3a) movement. This international learning organisation, which caters mainly to retired members of local communities, encourages people to come together to develop their interests and socialise.
To date, some 8,000 broadleaf trees — of various native species — have already been planted in the new woodland after being purchased by u3a members and friends of the charity. The programme is being delivered by the local charity Stump Up For Trees.
The u3a’s Clive Green told Express.co.uk that a single tree for the wood can be purchased for £7.50, while £650 will buy a copse of 100 saplings.
The project, he added, is great because “it basically translates unused land into land which is valuable for biodiversity, which has some long-term economic value.
“This kind of intervention is valuable for the climate, for biodiversity, for carbon capture and basically to make sure that the land doesn’t just law fallow and ultimately become subject to bracken, as wild weeds.”
Leading the tree-planting project is u3a member Neil Stephenson. He said: “I have been amazed at the response from members to our anniversary woodland campaign.
“Our original target of 5,000 trees was surpassed very quickly so we had to revise that target upwards to 10,000. We’re now so close to reaching our goal and we’d love to do that by Christmas.
“The enthusiasm for our anniversary woodland clearly shows our members’ commitment to tackling climate change and their investment in the sustainable future of our planet.”
Stump Up For Trees co-founder Robert Penn — who is managing the planting on behalf of the u3a — said that, once established, the trees will deliver a host of ecosystem services.
He explained: “That includes carbon sequestration — capturing, removal and storage of carbon dioxide — improved habitat for nature, natural flood management, good connectivity for wildlife between existing small pockets of ancient woodland, better soil and water quality and aesthetic value in the landscape.”
Nicky Clarke — a member of the u3a group in Gilwern, a village in Monmouthshire near the woodland site — spent a day helping to plant the first trench of saplings earlier this year.
She told Express.co.uk: “I’m very much into doing as much as I can to protect the environment. As soon as I heard about the anniversary woodland, I wanted to get involved.
“The site is in the middle of nowhere, and it was a 20-minute walk to get there — but when we arrived it was glorious. After a briefing we got to work and, although it was very, very cold, it was a beautiful day.
“We worked in pairs and it was pretty tough going. By the end of the day, I was absolutely exhausted, but it was so worthwhile. It was so rewarding.
“We are planning another walk and can’t wait to see how they are doing.
David Harris — also of the Gilwern u3a — added: “We wrapped up warm and dug plenty of holes. The seedlings were fairly small but most of us have been gardening most of our lives so we knew how to handle them.
“We planted about 200 between us and, although it was hard work, it was good fun and very satisfying.”
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Fellow Gilwern u3a member Graham Lipscombe participated in the planting with his walking group. He said: “We must have planted a couple of hundred [trees] between us.
“Quite easy really — open a gap with a spade and then drop the tree in and close it up. We were very keen to be involved, and help rejuvenate an area which I imagine must originally have been woodland.
“Hopefully in a couple of years we’ll be able to go back and see how it’s all getting on. Our u3a contributed a copse of 100 trees, with a range of native tree species. We really enjoyed it!”
You do not have to be a member of the u3a to get involved in the project, the charity noted. They said: “Friends of the u3a are also very welcome to buy trees.
“Groups can also buy a 100-tree copse — which will have a specially-dedicated plaque made by a local artisan.”
More information on the anniversary woodland project can be found on the u3a website.
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