Journal of the International Tree Foundation “Whatever I’m working on, trees come first” Gardener and TV presenter Diarmuid Gavin on why he puts trees at the heart of all his designs Andrew Cooper Finding our roots Matt Hancox Fruits of the forest John Chettoe Hope after Chernobyl Adrian Isaacs Boston tree party Volume 68 December/January 2008/9 Free to members of ITF ISSN 1740-2395 www.ejpphoto.com A tree for every occasion Give your family and friends a gift that grows through the Personal dedication International Tree Foundation, and safeguard Britain’s future Each site maintains its own heritage by helping to create new woodlands in the UK. record book in which all gifts For as little as £35, your gift will be marked by the planting are recorded. You also have of new trees in one of our woodland sites, many of which the opportunity to include are in community forests. The sites are open to the public for a special dedication to be recreation and enjoyment, while providing the habitat for more inscribed in the book. In than half of our wild creatures and many of our favourite plants addition, you will receive and wild flowers. a distinctive personalised card, which will include Perfect for Christmas and UK-wide woodlands your dedication – ideal as a a great gift for occasions keepsake. We have sites throughout throughout the year the UK to choose from, At certain sites you may be d Birthdays and the trees are specially able to attend the planting d Mother’s day selected for the woodland and, if you are considering a d Father’s Day in which they are planted. gift of £250 or more, it may d Easter They are mainly native be possible for an area of d Weddings species, such as oak, ash, woodland to be designated by d Births beech or Scots pine, and will a special name. d Retirement usually be planted out as d A special ‘thank you’ small saplings, which grow d To remember a loved one vigorously into sturdy trees. To find out more about the work of ITF contact: The International Tree Foundation, Sandy Lane, Crawley Down, West Sussex RH10 4HS Phone 01342 717300 email [email protected] www.internationaltreefoundation.org TREES volume 68 2008 |2| Contents In this issue… Finding our roots 4 Trees for Andrew Cooper Fruits of the forest 6 communities Matt Hancox Communities, and the benefits that woodlands and orchards. One man who Hope after Chernobyl 8 trees bring to them, are at the very has been using his popular fame with John Chettoe heart of our work. This issue of Trees gardeners and non-gardeners alike to Diarmuid Gavin profile 10 is dedicated to the variety of different promote the message that community Carrie Dunn ways in which trees enrich and support spaces need trees is award-winning communities around the world. gardener and TV presenter Diarmuid Boston tree party 12 Gavin. Having taken part in an ITF tree- Adrian Isaacs Having spent seven years living and planting to create a mini-orchard at Core issue 14 working in Malawi and Ethiopia, I have his local primary school in London, Kevin Croucher witnessed at first hand the vital role he explains why trees are crucial in that trees play in the health and well- urban spaces, and to children’s lives in Counting the costs of being of communities dealing with particular. Find out more on page 10. conservation 15 real poverty. The conservation and Charlene Watson restoration of forests has a twin local While London schoolchildren will be Book reviews 18 and global effect, benefitting individual learning more about apples, thanks communities on the ground and the to Diarmuid and ITF, how much do Supporting ITF 19 global community, by contributing to you know about the humble fruit? the fight against climate change. Kevin Croucher lets us in on some unexpected apple lore on page 14, and Throughout history, trees have raises a cheer for the renaissance of the played a vital role in the lives of our community orchard. communities. On page 4, Andrew Cooper offers a wide-ranging and If you’d like to take matters into your deeply personal overview of the value own hands, why not follow the example of trees to all of us, from the practical of Adrian Isaacs? Adrian set up the to the spiritual. Boston Woods Trust, and has helped make the fenlands of Lincolnshire a Trees continue to change lives all over more tree-friendly place. On page 12 Patron: His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales the world, and in this issue we focus he describes how he has created three Founder: Dr Richard St Barbe Baker OBE on two overseas projects that are community woodlands on his doorstep, President: Sir Ghilean Prance transforming communities in troubled and offers practical tips on how to do Vice Presidents: regions. On page 6, ITF volunteer Matt the same on yours. Cynthia Campbell Savours Professor Julian Evans Hancox describes how an ITF-funded E Green MBE project in Gambia is sparking a new Finally, I’d like to say how pleased I am Susan Hampshire wave of enthusiasm for a community to be joining ITF at this exciting stage Sir Bernard de Hoghton, BT, DL forest, while on page 8, John Chettoe in its development. I look forward to Satish Kumar explains how an orchard regeneration drawing upon the incredible breadth The Earl of Lindsay W E Matthews OBE scheme is bringing fresh hope to a of experience and great mix of skills Trustees: Terry Cann village in Belarus. among staff, volunteers, members and David H Gore the board. My priorities in the first six Tom Goss Meanwhile, in the Bale Mountains of months will be fundraising and working Kenton Rogers Bland Tomkinson Ethiopia, environmental economist with the board to improve decision- Chairman: Frances Neale Charlene Watson is looking at the making and sharpen our strategic Vice Chairman: Spencer G Keys ways in which rural communities in focus. If you have any comments, Director: Lorraine Dunk developing countries rely on forests for suggestions or ideas I’d love to hear Staff: Lyn Baylis shelter, fuel and food, and how those them, so please email me at lorraine@ Joanne George Sue Kipps benefits can be measured. On page 15 internationaltreefoundation.org. Sarah Leeming she provides an insight into her work, Alice Malaiperuman and describes how forests and the Lorraine Dunk The Journal is published annually by the communities that rely on them can Director, International Tree Foundation, a registered be better supported, with the help of International Tree charity (no 1106269). some incisive economic calculation. Foundation The opinions expressed in the Journal do not necessarily reflect ITF policy, and ITF does not Back in the UK, communities are hold itself responsible for any of those opinions. rediscovering the pleasures of local Editor: Michelle Pauli ([email protected]) Executive editor: Eleanor Stanley Front cover picture: Autumn colour at Westonbirt Arboretum in Tetbury, Gloucestershire by Anguskirk. See ([email protected]) more of Anguskirk’s photos at www.flickr.com/photos/27712868@N05. Design and print: www.intertype.co.uk International Tree Foundation, Sandy Lane, Crawley Down, West Sussex RH10 4HS, UK Paper: Cover 170gsm Revive Silk, inside pages Telephone: 01342 717300 Fax: 01342 718282 130gsm Revive Silk Email: [email protected] Website: www.internationaltreefoundation.org TREES volume 68 2008 |3| ITF voice Finding our roots Through the ages trees have been intrinsically linked to community life. Cooper Andrew ANDREW COOPER, award-winning wildlife film-maker and member of ITF’s Devon branch, describes the importance of trees to communities. t may be Stone Age humour, but Timber also helped the first farming Above: A giant honeybee comb anyone who claims that trees do not communities to keep the wildwood colony in a ‘magic tree’ of Assam, IIhave an impact on us has obviously at bay. Once a tree is felled, millions India, illuminated by the moon. never been hit on the head by a of seeds are triggered by the new- wooden club. Most of us can think found light. To prevent woodland from of the ways that trees have had an returning, the land must either be swathe of taller trees had all been impact on our lives. For me, trees are grazed by domestic stock, contained evenly topped some four metres above special. Travelling around the world I by wooden fencing or cultivated by ground. When I enquired why, the have filmed the wildlife of many great the use of a plough – and the original answer seemed obvious – Christmas forests, and coming across a giant of its ‘ard’ plough had no metal parts. Timber trees! What puzzled me was why the kind is always a remarkable experience. not only supported the fabric of our local people had not taken the smaller There is nothing more impressive than communities, but also their rulers. ones we passed earlier, and how they standing beneath a large tree, its wide, Sitting upon wooden thrones, kings got up so high to cut them off in such a spreading branches reaching high into ruled their realms. straight line. My Russian host gave me a the sky. Self-supporting, bending only look of utter bewilderment – that was before the fury of a gale or sagging Trees also provide food. The fruits and the level of winter snow! beneath a heavy fall of snow, its sheer leaves of some trees are highly nutritious, scale dwarfs all other life around. while others can be poisonous, yet they A few days later, I experienced another all play an important part in the complex revelation.