Introduction

The Witham Tree Group was formed in 2012 by a small group of likeminded residents with the aim of protecting and increasing the tree cover in Witham. Since then, the Group has worked closely with local authorities towards achieving those objectives. It was always intended that a large part of the Group’s activities would be the planting of additional trees. This record provides details of those trees.

The Group is indebted to Witham Town Council who provide an annual budget enabling the Group to plant several quality trees each year.

Major tree planting projects have been funded also by Braintree District Council.

Recognising the part played by trees in mitigating the impact of climate change, a major initiative by the Forestry Commission provided funds to local authorities to allocate resources for tree planting in their area. Essex Country Council has provided support to the Witham Tree Group from this general fund.

Co-operation with local residents’ associations and Eastlight Community Housing resulted in major tree planting projects undertaken by the Tree Group in the Hatfield Road, Humber Road and Forest Road areas and the Templars estate.

Whip Planting – In addition to the substantial trees listed in the record the Group has planted whips (one year old saplings) supplied bare rooted by The Conservation Volunteers.

While whip planting can be an effective and economic way of achieving tree cover, and the Group has had notable successes where the terrain is suitable, the attrition rate is much higher than for the larger trees which the Group has normally planted. While some of the losses are due to vandalism and grass mowing damage, many are due to the hotter, drier weather of recent years and the difficulty of providing adequate water in those circumstances. With summers becoming increasingly hot and dry, the rate of loss is rising. The Group will continue to plant whips in the future but only where it has some confidence that it can water and protect the young plants.