A new record

In the planting season of 2023/24 we planted a record 84 trees. In 2024/25 we smashed this record by planting 95. These record scores have been achieved because funding was received from the Urban Tree Challenge Fund run by the Forestry Commission, which has enabled the Tree Group to make real progress in filling the treeless gaps in the Witham landscape. These government funds are channelled through Essex County Council, and the planting is mainly on Braintree District Council land. We are grateful to both local authorities for their help and support.

Government funding

In previous years we have used these government funds to plant trees on the Templars Estate, around the Spa Road playground and alongside the central section of the cycle path which runs from Motts Lane to the edge of the Rivenhall Oaks estate. In 2024/25 we returned to the cycle path to plant 25 trees at the Rivenhall Oaks end of the site. These form an avenue at either side ofthe path as it runs through a sunken section. There was already a mature oak in place and we planted another oak opposite. The rest of the planting alternates aspens and liquidambars. The aspens are a fastigiate cultivar which means they will remain slim, so that the trees will be alternately tall and slim and shorter and wider.

The other major site funded under the government scheme was at Rickstones Recreation Ground. With the increasingly hot, dry summers which climate change is giving us we have focused on providing shade for children using the equipment at the various playgrounds around Witham and one of our objectives at the Recreation Ground was to provide suitable shade trees by the playground. We also extended the planting there in both directions (there were already some silver birches near the playground) to provide shade for park users in the summer and shelter for
those watching football games in the winter. We planted a total of 19 trees of common, mostly native species, such as hornbeams and maples but also a couple of replacement silver birches and some hop hornbeams (which confusingly are not hornbeams at all).

In the North West corner of the Ground, where there are no football pitches close by, we planted a triangle of 21 trees, irregularly distributed, with a variety of size, leaf shapes and colour. There are no organised sports at the Ground in the summer and this planting, besides being pleasant to look at, will offer shade to those using the Ground in the summer months. Again we planted mostly native species, such as hornbeams, limes and maples, with a few more exotic trees, such as ornamental pears and Persian ironwood.

We hope to return to the Recreation Ground in the next planting season to add some more trees.

Witham Town Council funding

Besides the funding from the government scheme, we were able to draw on Witham Town Council funds. The Council has been very supportive of the Tree Group ever since the Group began its
planting programme some 10 years ago and the Group is most grateful for the Council’s reliable support through thick and thin. One project funded by the Town Council was another step in our
programme of providing shade trees at children’s playgrounds, this time at the park at Rosebay Close. After discussion with Braintree District Council, we planted 4 large maples and 2 smaller
liquidambars to provide the necessary shade.

At Spa Road the Town Council funded an additional 6 trees to continue the planting between the Humber Road estate and the stream between the estate and the football ground. These were similar species to the trees already there (aspens, maples and Turkish hazels). The longer term aim is to join up this area of planting with the trees around the playground areas.

Finally, Town Council funds were used to add 12 trees along Motts Lane to join up with the planting at the cycle path. These were similar species to those already planted by the path (aspens,
hornbeams, tulip trees plus a sweet chestnut and a gleditsia). This completed the planting project along the cycle path.

Witham Tree Group funding

While the substantial projects, such as those at Rickstones Recreation Ground and the Motts Lane/Rivenhall Oaks cycle path, are a key part of the Tree Group’s work, it’s aim is to provide trees where suitable in all parts of Witham and from its own funds the Group added a tree (a Persian ironwood) at the end of Homefield Road.

Inevitably a small proportion of trees planted do not, for various reasons, survive. In The Avenue the Group replaced a small red oak, donated by a member, which had never established itself and after some 4 years had finally given up the struggle. It was replaced by a gleditsia, a yellow leaved tree of which an example is already flourishing in The Avenue.

In Forest Road a red acer was replaced with a similar tree. A line of 4 such trees was originally planted in an area of thick and sodden clay. 2 of these trees have established well but 1 did not
survive the first winter (and was replaced in 2022/23) and a second failed in the second winter. It was this one which was replaced and we are crossing our fingers that the 2 replacements do better than their predecessors.

Lastly, at the Spa Road playground a scots pine, one of a pair grown and donated by members of the public, failed, having lost part of its root ball in transit, and was replaced with a similar tree.
The other donated scots pine is thriving.

Sponsored trees

Members of the public can sponsor a tree (or trees) to mark some event or achievement or simply to increase the number of trees. For a standard charge of £200 we purchase, plant, water and maintain the sponsored tree. Most trees sponsored in this way are planted in memory of a loved one and in 2024/25 we planted 2 such trees (a plane tree and a wych elm) in the field off Flora
Road where a number of similar trees are already flourishing.

Whips

Finally, we obtained a number of hedging whips, free of charge, from The Conservation Volunteers and planted them along the hedge by the railway in the field at the Rivenhall Oaks end of the cycle path with the object of reinforcing the hedge as a noise barrier for the Forest Road estate. A number of whips grown by members in their gardens were added to the total.

Daffodils

In 2023/24 we planted 4 trees in the small grass area alongside the road between the Morrison’s roundabout and the mini roundabout at the end of Chipping Hill. This is a spot which traffic passes on its way into town and the trees were intended to add interest to the entrance to the town and strike a welcoming note. To enhance the welcoming effect we branched out into floral decoration, planting some 300 daffodils around the trees in October 2024 at our own cost. After an anxious wait, while the site remained bare as daffodils appeared all over Witham, the flowers burst into bloom in March and provided a splendid show for several weeks.

While we are not planning to add flowers routinely to our planting plans, we are happy to repeat the experiment at any other suitable sites. Suggestions from members of the public would be very welcome.

A hard year and an uncertain future

This was a difficult and strenuous planting season in which we came close to overstretching our resources. We have always been able to count on some help from the staff of Aegon but it happened that unfortunately this season we had less help than usual. We should however give a most honourable mention to our friend Alex who matched and then broke the record for the number of occasions on which a member of Aegon staff has provided assistance. He is now up to 5. We really need more help and, if anyone can spare a few hours, we would be glad if you would get in touch. You would be sure of a warm welcome.

The season ended with some discouraging news which will certainly mean that we will not be able to break our new planting record in the near future, even if we thought it wise to try. The Government has suspended the national funding scheme pending a review. It is yet not clear whether the scheme will resume or, if it does, when and in what form. We now have some resources of our own which for a short while will partially make up the deficit but we may never return to the recent years of plenty. At least, with our record planting seasons we can say that we made hay while the sun shone.