Shade of the Canopy

iTree Eco Tree Planting

We gathered in Loxton Park, 26th January 2024, to plant three trees to celebrate the success of the iTree Eco Survey of 2023. The survey was commissioned by West Midlands Combined Authority and carried out in partnership between BTP, Treeconomics, Barton Hyett, and Forest Research. The Mayor of West Midlands, Andy Street, joined us to plant the tree that the wonderful Parks Team from Birmingham City Council prepared, taking part in this momentous occasion with us.

The survey collected data from 1,000 sample plots across Birmingham, Solihul, and Coventry, the former being BTP’s focus. Thanks to our fantastic and growing network of urban forest volunteers, like Krish Kumar who came along that morning after being a staple volunteer during the surveying, the survey was completed in an unbelievable two weeks! We will be posting more about the results very soon.

Krish Kumar helping to dig the tree pit for the iTree Eco tree planting commemoration.

Representatives from the Mayor’s Office, WMCA, Treeconomics, Amazon, Birmingham City Council (including the Parks Team, who have helped us throughout our planting) were all in attendance for this wonderful event. The Mayor learned how to plant a tree first-hand! The Cabinet Member for the Environment and Councillor for Bromford and Hodge Hill, Majid Mahmood, arrived after afternoon prayers to show his advocacy for the tree planting and iTree initiatives, but he is already a planting-pro after helping BTP throughout Tree Week 2023.

We have been humbled and truly welcome all the warm support and assistance we have received with these citizen science projects. Placing community and its people at the forefront of the programmes, what we have achieved together as a result is something incredible and worthy of praise. Thank you to everyone involved this day, and every other day, that made the iTree Eco Survey a great experience.

Francesca (Amazon), Andy Street (Mayor WM), Mac (BTP), and 2 reps from WMCA for the iTree Eco tree planting commemoration.

Debt Justice Treemembrance Planting

Post author By birminghamtreepeople
Post date 24/01/2024
Categories In Planting, Treemembrance, Treevents

A special Gingko Biloba tree was planted today, in the City Centre Gardens, to celebrate the 11-mile-long human chain that circled Birmingham on 16th May 1998, organised by the Debt Justice Coalition. 70,000 people changed the world, as $130 billion of debt was cancelled because of this mass protest, with buses bringing campaigners from Europe.

The commemorative plaque reads: “Debt Justice Birmingham group played a significant role in the golden jubilee debt campaign that won $130 billion debt relief for lower income countries. Here, on 16 May 1998, 70,000 people surrounded a global leaders’ summit to create pressure for change.”

The crowd of up towards 50 people at the Treemembrance planting.

Debt Justice is our first Treemembrance planting!

Ruth (original member) and Richard Tetlow, part of the organisation, liaised with Birmingham TreePeople to plant a commemorative tree under the Treemembrance programme, to honour that day and the greatness that was achieved. Rachel Stevens, a 90-year-old campaigner was in attendance, along with Matt Gardener of Debt Justice current staff, John Nightingale who raised £2,000 for the campaign and the current Birmingham branch Chair, David Nicholls also of Debt Justice and a Smethwick Labour Councillor, Izzy Knowles local Councillor for Moseley, John Cotton (who participated in 1998) of Birmingham City Council who planted the tree, Heidi Chow the current Head of the Debt Justice Campaign, and many others up towards 50 people in attendance!

The digging, planting, and organising team for the treemembrance planting.

Let’s not forget the crew that helped organise the logistics of the event! Julianne Statham BTP Trustee for Treemembrance, and Ian McDermott BTP Trustee and Trainer. Emma McAuliffe of BCC, the digging and planting team Jez and Kam. As well as everyone behind the scenes who pulled together to make this day a truly fantastic celebration.

Julianne, who provided the images and captions, said,
“With the Gingko’s reputation for long living, it will serve as a lasting memorial to the power of ordinary people, to be able to change the world.”

Tree Equity

Originally assisting The Woodland Trust as consultants during the preliminary phase, Birmingham TreePeople contributed towards the launch of WT’s Tree Equity Score, by demonstrating and explaining some of the work we have already been doing in the City of Birmingham, with the Urban Forest Masterplan.

Krish Kumar and Raghav Kumar, pictured with Catherine Nuttgens (WT) during their interview, by Phil Formby.

BTP’s relationship with WT has developed further, as both charities are contributing towards the Urban Forest Accelerator, where our joint focus on tree equity is a prominent feature of the project. BTP have been planting in the wards we have due to those areas having low tree equity. So, what exactly is Tree Equity, and why does it matter to us?

Low tree equity means that an area is lacking in trees, and an area with high tree equity has most benefits of green spaces. That’s why our priority wards targeted areas with lower canopy cover, to raise the tree equity. WT says on their new page: ‘Tree equity is the idea that all communities have equitable access to the benefits of trees where they live. While some urban areas enjoy abundant greenery and tree cover, others lack these essential natural assets.’

Tree Equity Photography, Nechells

Charlotte McDermott, BTP’s Communications Officer, along with Krish Kumar and Raghav Kumar, took the lovely group from WT (Catherine, Amber, and Phil) to Nechells, one of our priority wards where we planted with the community last year, to capture many professional photos of good and bad tree equity, including our wonderful urban forest volunteers to be the face of the equity score campaign.

Krish and Raghav Kumar, BTP volunteers, professionally photographed by Phil Formby for WT's Tree Equity. — Raghav and Krish outside the Queens and Home Towers in Nechells, where BTP planted last year.

It was a hot summer day in Nechells, and we had a nice time at the photoshoot. Catherine interviewed our keen volunteers about their relationship with nature and why they volunteered, the young men also proved to be incredibly photogenic, and Raghav showed Phil (professional photographer) some of his amateur photography skills!

We would like to thank Andy Allison, BCC Tree Officer, for providing the planting maps that Charlotte used to show WT around Nechells and its specific the planting locations. Not only this time, but for every planting session! We look forward to working with our partners this year to propel our projects even further.

Bromford Tree Planting

For the final community planting day of 2023, Bromford received a myriad of new trees. It was a warm and welcome occasion, even though it’s Winter now. We dug and planted trees alongside Birmingham City Council’s Woodland Team and a few Tree Officers, Open Door, and Friends of Hodge Hill Common. Our wonderful BTP team consisted of Katy Hawkins, Julianne Statham, and Steve Watson.

Hazel, a local resident, was able to have a gingko she chosen planted, and many other community members helped. Katy and Cath Fletcher (Open Door Green Connector) liaised to organise this special planting day across Bromford. Lisa Hodge and Jo Green from FOHHC were also present! Jo getting into the spirit by pretending to be a tree to mark the planting spot (image at the top).

In the spirit and ongoing theme of welcoming ceremonies, focusing on mindfulness and the connection between us and nature, the tree was lowered with the aid of instruments. They were also delicately decorated for Christmas, to celebrate together for our last community planting day for 2023. Laughs were had and songs were almost sung – well done everybody!

Bromford planting, Barry with a gingko — Barry planting a gingko.

Vauxhall, Nechells Tree Planting

We planted 6 new trees on the Vauxhall Road estate this morning. They were planted alongside Nechells POD and their lovely members, who got stuck right in with the digging!

Agatha digging on Vauxhall Road for the tree planting

Two Autumn Purples, two redwoods, and two planes have graced the green space in Nechells. This is thanks to Katy of BTP, Chantelle Henry from the POD and the wonderful group, as well as Malcolm, Mark, and Steve from the Woodland team.

There were a lot of bricks, but the hard work was worth it, thanks to the joint effort. We also enjoyed some leafy teas and coffee afterwards to warm up. Agatha, a regular POD member, read a beautiful poem she wrote for Christmas to welcome the new trees. The new redwoods and planes have been decorated to celebrate!

A huge thanks to the Woodland team again for their fantastic support, Chantelle, Katy, and Andy of Birmingham City Council for organising this community planting. We look forward to more tree walks in the New Year!

Chantelle’s laminated tags to decorate the newly planted trees on Bloomsbury and Vauxhall with the teams that did so!

If you look closely, you can see Simon, Lee, and Majid, from the last planting session with the POD.

Windsor Place, Nechells Tree Planting

Malcolm, Steve, and Mark of the Woodland team, and BTP's Katy Hawkins, getting ready to dig the planting hole for the new windsor place tree in nechells.

After the residents were given the chance to vote between two tree species, the Japonica was chosen to be the newly planted tree today at Windsor Place, Nechells.

Katy Hawkins of BTP, Birmingham City Council‘s Woodland team (Steve and Mark), and Michael from Sheltered Housing, organised this residential tree planting and have worked hard to add this new tree to the growing green space.

Naima, one of the lovely residents at Windsor Place, Nechells, kindly joined us for the tree planting (thank you!). We all shared some coffee and laughs during the crisp planting morning.

We christened the tree altogether! Jackie Japonica was a suggested name, but we also wanted to name the tree using all our initials. However, there were too many consonants… therefore we decided on ‘Windsor’. Welcome to Nechells, Windsor!

The whole team using the mulch to christen the new tree.

Katy helping Steve and Mark from the woodland team dig the new planting hole

Huge thanks to Michael and the Woodland team for all their help, and we look forward to the next one!

Windsor has their roots in the ground! So when is the next one?

Katy and Charley with the Sunday 17th Dec Home and Queens Towers planting flyer, inside the blocks.

We wanted to remind everyone our next community planting will take place Sunday 17th Dec, at the Home and Queens Tower blocks in Nechells. Katy and Charley, pictured left, would love to see you there, especially if you’re a resident! Contact us if you’d like more information.

A ‘Dodgy’ Tree?

Post author By birminghamtreepeople
Post date 12/12/2023
Categories In Information, Planting, UFA

Whist checking the TreePlotter planting locations during the preparation for National Tree Week 2023, Ian McDermott of Birmingham TreePeople, and Andy Allison and Peter Hill of Birmingham City Council, came across a rather ‘dodgy-looking’ tree on Sunridge Avenue, Newtown.

Tree week plotting led to Andy, Mac and Peter finding a dodgy tree — Andy Allison (BCC) and Ian McDermott (BTP) at the storage yard.

The sizable, white willow tree is situated next to a busy, residential car park, attached to an apartment complex. The tree in question was surrounded by fresh, upturned soil on one side, but the tree is fully-grown and not recently planted. This indicated that the tree had lifted out of the ground, leaning to one side with wind pressure. The roots ripped up from the ground and scattered the soil around it. The tree clearly wobbled on its side and set back down, but this cannot last. A stronger wind will cause the tree to completely topple, thus landing on the packed car park.

Pete marking the new hazardous willow tree — Peter Hill (BCC) marking the newly found hazard on TreePlotter.

An emergency tree removal request has been initiated upon finding the ‘dodgy’, hazardous tree. Without the tree planting celebrations of Tree Week, and the diligent work of these three individuals finalising the tree pit locations, the tree would have eventually fallen onto the adjacent parking. Now that it has been discovered, the community compound will be safe from the oversized, deteriorating tree. A big thanks to them all for locating and promptly dealing with this unstable willow.

Here is our TreePlotter map, that BTP and BCC have been using to record and change tree data, for the tree planting season and National Tree Week 2023: https://uk.pg-cloud.com/BTP/?scenario=2023-Planting-projects-BTP

Nechells, Bloomsbury Tree Planting

Simon holding one of Nechells' new trees for planting

We were joined by many enthusiastic nature-lovers in Nechells last Saturday 9th December, for our #TreeWeek planting on Bloomsbury Street. Our BTP team consisted of Simon, Katy, and Sue, who worked with Nechells POD, Lee Marsham, Majid Mahmood, 5 local adults and 6 children to help Gristwood And Toms plant 8 new trees.

Gristwood and Toms helped us plant these trees last weekend. Thank you both!

The weather never deterred us! The holes were dug thanks to G&T, and the local community thoroughly enjoyed the sound enhanced planting ceremony with Cllr Mahmood. The arts and crafts session provided the kids a chance to shine with their artistic, wooden tree-tags and decorations with a Christmas theme. The POD, Councillor Marsham and Cllr Mahmood have posted some fantastic photos and videos of their own. If you haven’t seen their posts over the weekend, definitely take a peek on their social media channels!

Simon, Katy, and Lee helping secure stakes and attach ties.

A group shot of the planting squad in Nechells.

We would like to thank each and every high-spirited individual or organisation who helped us get these beautiful trees planted in Nechells. Another big step has been taken towards a greater, greener Birmingham!

The tree tags took the form of wooden tree globes, running up to Christmas. What a lovely way to decorate and celebrate the new trees!

Tree tags for new Nechells trees. — The tree tags took the form of wooden tree globes, running up to Christmas. What a lovely way to decorate and celebrate the new trees!

We have more planting opportunities in the coming weeks. This Wednesday 13th there will be planting in Nechells again (Windsor and Vauxhall Places). Queens and Home Towers will be on the 17th. There will also be another session with the POD on the 18th on Vauxhall Road. If you’d like to join us, everyone is welcome.

Thanks to Sue for the photos.

Trees in Planning Applications

Post author By birminghamtreepeople
Post date 07/12/2023
Categories In Information, Planning, Training, Treevents

Trees in planning applications: Mac giving a presentation for Calthorpe Residents Society — Ian McDermott, BTP Trustee, gave a presentation on trees in planning applications for Calthorpe Residents Society, on 29th November 2023.

BTP are thrilled to have be asked to speak about trees in planning applications to the Calthorpe Residents Society. On the 29th November, the meeting was hosted in a very plush wine bar in Edgbaston Village.

There are two BTP committee members also on the Calthorpe board, and they knew that BTP have a number of speakers available for a wide range of tree-related topics. In this case, Mac was available to talk to the Society about trees and the law in an urban setting. The presentation was well received with a very interactive audience, who engaged about boundary trees and common law rights.

We would like to thank CRS for inviting us! If anyone is interested in learning more, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Highters Heath Tree Planting

Today we celebrated Tree Week in Highters Heath, with Highters Heath Community School and the Friends of Daisy Farm Park. We worked with the new friends group and school earlier this year to plant trees, and now we are back for more!

Despite the soggy weather, the wonderful group of prefects from the local school came with smiles on their faces, to plant trees with the TreePeople on Maypole Grove this morning. Charley, the Communications Officer, met the teachers and pupils at the school, enjoying a nice community walk to the planting location. There they met Ian McDermott and Julianne Statham, BTP Trustees, and the Woodland Team’s Leon and Nick, ready for planting the new gingko trees.

The girls from Highters Heath Community School digging the planting hole

Mac told the children about the special tree, thought to be extinct but is now planted globally, the Gingko Biloba or Maindenhair Tree. Splitting into two groups of girls versus boys – because at this age we still have cooties – the teams set about who could plant the tree quicker, but in the end, they were evenly matched! The adults helped the two teams and taught the kids how to plant the trees from hole to stake ties; they were true naturals and grubby from all the hard work when we were finished.

The whole team for the tree planting — The full team with grubby hands! All photos taken with permissions.

Birmingham TreePeople would like to thank Highters Heath Community School for participating in this tree planting with us, as well as Steve Anderson from Friends of Daisy Farm Park, and of course Mac, Julianne, and the Woodland team for all the help and fun we had planting trees!

Hodge Hill Tree Planting

On the 2nd December 2023, the Friends of Hodge Hill Common and Birmingham TreePeople teamed up to plant a new tree on Coleshill Road. We planted a beautiful semi-mature tree for Tree Week, even though the winter frost had just set in!

Simon and Tonia with the Treecycle for the Hodge Hill planting

Simon Needle transported the new sweet gum to the planting location using the Treeycycle. This is a low emission electric bike that kept the carbon footprint of the tree even lower! BTP and FOHHC spent a sweet and frosty afternoon working together to put a new tree in the ground, that will grow with vivid colours.

The event garnered many member of the friends group, members of BTP, and the general public. We pulled together to have a go at digging the planting hole, but the children really got stuck in! Lisa Hodge welcomed the tree with a mindful welcoming ceremony with the group, becoming one with the tree. After which the children showed us old’ens how it’s done by back-filling the hole!

Katy Hawkins gave an informative and creative talk about the benefits and characteristics of the liquidambar, passing a leaf around for everyone to smell the sweet scent of the sweet gum. She ended by giving everyone a scroll to remember to come back and water the tree. Watering our trees, taking care of them, is just as important as planting them. We hope that Hodge Hill enjoys and cares for the new piece of nature on their doorstep.

Thank you to Urfaan and Genny, who organised the refreshments, Katy and Lisa for hosting the ritual, and Simon and Tonia for transporting the tree and equipment. A HUGE thanks to everyone who attended the event; we hope you loved it as much as we did. What a lovely day to remember!

Two young ladies digging the hole in Hodge Hill

All photos taken with permissions.

Planting with T4C

Two Trees for Cities employees, planting trees for Tree Week.

Trees for Cities, the facilitator for this year’s National Tree Week tree planting, joined the BTP and BCC teams on 28th November, to green up Newtown in Birmingham.

Mac, Steve, and Julianne, three of BTP’s Trustees, assisted the BCC Woodland and City Parks teams, helping the T4C corporate volunteers put the new trees in the ground. The Woodland team marked out the eight sites and provided tools. Four T4C employees, from all over the country, turned up and dug their hearts out. One of the trees, a London Plane or Platanus Orientalis ‘Minaret’, was damaged and replaced free of charge!

Steve Watson arriving on his yellow bike — Steve arriving on his bike

The T4C team ready for planting — Steve arriving on his bike

Planting brings many benefits…

Newtown is one of our target, low canopy, priority wards. Thanks to the planting of these trees, the area will receive new benefits from them. Trees filter air pollution, provide shade and biodiversity, as well as protection from storm water. Planting these trees will contribute long-term to the Urban Forest Master Plan, and the Urban Forest Accelerator projects.

Mac chatting away with the Trees for Cities volunteers, supervising the hole digging. This is to ensure the correct depth in relation to the tree. If we plant these trees well, they will flourish in the years to come.

Here we see the city parks team digging with T4C, preparing the holes for the semi-mature trees going in. The trees are being protected by stakes and metal mesh cages, to prevent extensive vandalism.

It was a truly lovely morning planting trees in Newtown with several partners involved. We would like to thank the Woodland and City Parks teams, the Trees for Cities volunteers, and also Julianne who provided these images and videos. We look forward to more tree planting throughout Tree Week 2023!

Mac and member of woodland team, holding the broken tree tip

Trees for Tree Week

Post author By birminghamtreepeople
Post date 25/11/2023
Categories In Planning, Planting, Treevents, UFA, UFMP

Our trees for Tree Week 2023 arrived yesterday!

Ian McDermott and Julianne Statham of BTP met Barcham, Kier and City Parks to unload our selection of trees, protective stakes, and cages for the tree planting season and Tree Week, due to take place next Monday 27th for two weeks. We will be working with BCC and many community groups to get the trees in the ground. Many thanks to all who helped unload these trees, preparing us for the upcoming planting celebrations.

Barcham driver Chris delivering our trees for tree week

The Urban Forest Accelerator brings a quirky, sustainable touch

Post author By birminghamtreepeople
Post date 24/11/2023
Categories In Information, Planting, Treevents, UFA

Birmingham ward, Hodge Hill, will have a tree planted transported via Treecycle

What is the Urban Forest Accelerator?

The Urban Forest Accelerator is a partnership project focusing on the urban forest. National Trust, Woodland Trust, and Community Forest Trust currently support a range of Councils and diverse communities with significant urban green estates, with high potential to increase trees and woods that enhance existing heritage and create new urban landscape with cultural value. The project is designed to respond to Council and communal needs, by improving urban green-space through the encouragement of tree planting, communications, and community engagement.

Birmingham TreePeople, alongside Birmingham City Council, have been the propagators of this programme within the City of Birmingham, using the city as a preliminary case study that coincides with the implementation of the Urban Forest Master Plan, another project focusing on the increase of ward-level canopy cover to improve the health and well-being of residents.

Community Focus

Due to the Urban Forest Accelerator’s focus on community and residential involvement, Heritage Fund provided the finances for the project, and for BTP to garner to employees to enact Communications and Engagement, something rare for a charity to obtain. BTP, with its humble origins in the Tree Warden Scheme by BCC in 2016, to achieving the city’s status as Tree City in 2019, completing this year’s iTree Eco survey in record time, the non-profit organisation that prioritises the urban forest has grown from strength to strength, establishing one the largest volunteer networks in the UK.

Since the posts have been filled for the Urban Forest Accelerator, work began diligently and delicately establishing bonds in priority wards with low canopy cover, working with friends and residential groups, officers, and green champions to bring the community together and raise the awareness and benefits of trees before the planting season. Leading us to diversely well-attended local tree walk events in partnership with groups such as Nechells POD, and Friends of Hodge Hill Common, the latter whom have been working with BTP to establish a ceremonial planting day for their new sweet gum (liquidambar) tree in Hodge Hill on the 2nd December.

Planting in Hodge Hill for the Urban Forest Accelerator

Hodge Hill planting flyer for the urban forest accelerator and tree week, 02/12/23

Coinciding perfectly with Tree Week, the tree planting celebrations won’t begin without the BTP Chair, Tonia Clark, riding the collectively nicknamed ‘Treecycle’ – a bicycle/basket transportation – from the tree’s storage location to the planting location, further lowering the tree’s carbon emissions through this method of transference. The myriad of benefits that just one tree can make will not only be celebrated with a tree-lowering ceremony, carrying over the theme of mindfulness and connection with nature from the Creative Tree Walk on 18th November, providing the residents with a form of social prescribing to improve mental and physical health, but also through the theme of sustainability with the use of the Treecycle, which all participants in the event are excited for its quirky and wholesome debut.

There will be many community-involved tree planting activities running from Tree Week through to January, and the Hodge Hill planting will take place at 14:30 until 15:30, where there will be the tree planting ceremony followed by refreshments for the residents and groups in attendance. Through these kinds of deeper bonds in the city ward’s, the trees that are planted will receive the love and care they have so-longed deserved, and through the Urban Forest Accelerator and UFMP programmes, Birmingham will continue to grow greener and sturdier, one ward at a time.

This project is part-funded by the Trees Call to Action Fund. The fund was developed by Defra, in partnership with the Forestry Commission, and is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund. The tree-planting was funded by BUPA, and is being delivered by One Tree Planted and Trees for Cities.

Orchard Pruning at Manor Park Farm

Post author By birminghamtreepeople
Post date 21/11/2023
Categories In Information, Pruning, Training, Treevents

Manor Park Farm’s orchard pruning volunteering session had a wonderful turnout. We met on a pleasant morning at the farm, at the invitation of their friends group. We had been asked to lend a hand, pruning some trees in the orchard, and removing dead ones.

Nina Griffiths, BTP Trustee in charge of Street Trees, and member of the Friends of Manor Farm Park, leads the orchard pruning volunteers in the session. — **Nina Griffiths, BTP Trustee in charge of Street Trees, and member of the Friends of Manor Farm Park, leads the pruning volunteers in the session.**

The day was led by BTP stalwart and Trustee Nina Griffiths, who talked the group through the day’s activities, and supplied everyone with a work plan for the day, very impressive. A dozen TreePeople, including two new attendees, soon got stuck into the work and within a couple of hours we had finished! This provided the opportunity to walk back through the park, to enjoy the splendid tree collection, followed by coffee and cake at the end – a great end to a great day out.
Ian McDermott, Trustee, Trainer, and Arboriculturalist

A lesson here during pruning training:
how not to mulch!

Would you like to join Manor Park Farm Friends for one of their regular volunteering sessions caring for the park? The remaining 2023 sessions are on 3rd and 16th December. Contact them for more details. They meet in the carpark at 10.30, but under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

Our next free training session will be on Saturday 16th December, 10am until 12pm. We will be learning more about conifer identification at Highbury Park, with the Highbury Park Friends group.

We’ll meet at the Shutcock Lane car park. The What Three Words for the car park are ///into.under.having.

These events are open to all, so please let others know if you think they will be interested, and bring your friends and family. This event will be outdoors and on uneven terrain, so please dress appropriately.

more about our free training

we also run a paid course

some of our training is recorded and uploaded to youtube