‘Growing the Future’ at Sherwood Forest Community Tree Nursery

The tree nursery has been in the planning and development stage for some months, but as we move into the autumn seed collection season, it is most fitting for the nursery to be officially opened.

The Community Tree Nursery is the only one of its kind operating within the Sherwood area and will enable local tree and plant seeds to be collected by the community and volunteers, and then propagated and grown on to heathy young trees and native plants ready for planting out.

Capital funding to support the creation of the tree nursery has come from the David Cock Foundation, Aviva Insurance, Mansfield Building Society, Natural England and the Forestry Commission.

More recently, Newark and Sherwood District Council awarded grant funding to the Sherwood Forest Trust to the value of £95k as part of its UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocation. The funding will be used to provide additional resource to support the delivery of the Community Tree Nursery activities as well providing support to enable a variety of community events and volunteering opportunities for the local residents across Newark and Sherwood.

Dr Patrick Candler, CEO of the Trust said: “ We have been wanting for some time to get a tree nursery for Sherwood so we can collect, grow and then plant out native  tree species when we carry out our winter tree planting events. With the financial assistance we have received, our dream can now become a reality.

We look forward to welcoming local people to help us collect seeds and grow the local provenance trees ready for planting within community-based schemes. It is now more important than ever before to be planting more trees.”

Councillor Emma Oldham, Portfolio Holder for Biodiversity and Environmental Services, said: “I am delighted that through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Newark and Sherwood District Council are able to support the Sherwood Forest Trust with the Community Tree Nursery.

“We are incredibly lucky to have the stunning Sherwood Forest on our doorstep in our district and it is incredibly important we protect this remarkable habitat for future generations. The nursery will mean that local residents will be able to learn more about trees that are local to the area, their importance and the steps we can all take to protect our environment. Through a series of events and volunteering opportunities the nursery will also becoming a thriving hub for the local community.

“I very much look forward to attending the opening of the tree nursery in October and can’t wait to see what lovely trees and plants we are able to grow.”