Happy National Tree Week! The country’s biggest celebration of the oldest and most valued plants in our landscape begins this week – and it’s a particularly special year, marking the 40th anniversary of the first event back in 1975.
At that time Dutch Elm Disease was ravaging millions of beautiful old elm trees, and the first National Tree Week began as a way of bringing people together to replant new trees in the place of those lost.
Now as new diseases like ash dieback threaten our trees, already facing the challenges of climate change and increasing pressure on land, there’s never been a greater need to plant more trees. Communities all around the UK are getting together through fun events like tree planting activities and workshops to plant about a million new trees.
And you too can do your bit no matter where you garden - there’s always space for another tree! In our garden centre here in Pontypool you’ll find everything from elegant Japanese acers you can grow in a container, to great value small garden trees like Amelanchier x lamarckii which add beauty and colour to your garden all year yet never outgrow their welcome. So plant a tree today – you’ll enjoy it for many years to come!
National Tree Week takes place from 28 November to 6 December: for more details visit www.treecouncil.org.uk.
