Tree adoptions help secure future for woodland
A unique charity fundraising campaign is helping people to feel more connected to a Sandwell green space.
Warley Woods Community Trust has been running a tree adoption campaign to help take care of Warley Woods and ensure its long-term survival, as well as help people to have a small part in looking after the area.
The campaign allows people to pay a donation and adopt a tree in the park, either for themselves or as a gift for someone else.
Viv Cole, manager of the charity, said it had become particularly popular to adopt a tree during the coronavirus lockdown.
She said: “It’s something that has gone on for quite a while, but people have found it to be a more popular pastime during lockdown as they’ve been enjoying their green spaces more than they thought they would do.
“More and more people have wanted to help and they want to feel that special connection to a little part of woodland, so we’ve got 1,500 trees that people can adopt.
“They can choose the one that they see on their favourite walk or where they stop to have a conversation or just a tree they like.”
Adopting a tree at Warley Woods costs £25 per year or £45 for two years, with each adopter being given a certification of adoption as well as a wood key ring gift and a place on the online map of the park.
The funds raised are used for tree planting, tree inspection and tree works across the park.
Mrs Cole said the campaign had allowed the charity to continue running what, she said, was the only park in the country run by a community trust, rather than the council.
She said: “I think we’ve really benefitted very much from people valuing what they have around them. Without the people supporting us this year, we’d really have struggled, so it’s lovely to see people buying a tree for themselves or a present for friends and family.”
To adopt a tree go to warleywoods.org.uk/appeal/adopt-a-tree
