Summary
A programme of activities which engaged a wide range of people in the collection, propagation and reintroduction of native trees and flower seeds.

Background

Following the Biodiversity Convention at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992 the UK Biodiversity Plan (BAP) was produced, which encouraged action at a local level. Both Trees of Time and Place and the subsequent Woodland Wildflowers projects engaged people with their local countryside and woodlands through positive action, enhancing local biodiversity, and teaching those involved new skills relating to ecology and the management of woodlands.

The Projects

A series of events were held to collect native tree and woodland wildflower seed from existing woodlands of nature conservation value, then sown and planted back into both existing and new woodlands within the Great North Forest.
A partnership approach was adopted across this community forest, with many different agencies, organisations, community groups and individuals working as a team.
Many different arts media were used to engage people with the whole process.
Trees of Time & Place was sponsored by Esso UK as part of a national community programme.
Woodland Wildflowers was funded by the Countryside Agency’s Local Heritage Initiative, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation & Nationwide Building Society. Partners included: Great North Forest, Countryside Agency, Woodland Trust, BTCV, Landlife, Groundwork South Tyneside, Gateshead MBC, South Tyneside MBC, City of Sunderland, Durham County Council, Chester-le-Street District Council and many local environmental and residents groups.

What has been achieved?
Partnership working proved an effective method of bringing the skills of agencies, the woodland owners and the enthusiasm and commitment of local people together, to make an effective contribution to producing native trees and woodland wildflowers which were then planted back into woodlands in large quantities to aid the biodiversity of woodlands within the North East of England. Literally thousands of people were engaged in these projects between the millennium and 2005.

References

http://www.woodland-wildflowers.org.uk/
http://www.lhi.org.uk/projects_directory/projects_by_region/north_east/south_tyneside/woodland_wildflowers/index.html