The challenge, our approach and progress made
Challenge
To establish an accessible community tree nursery in the heart of Penrith that will open a doorway to the world of conservation for local people.
A place where people can:
- spend quality time in the great outdoors, develop their ‘green fingers’ and learn about trees, rivers, conservation, flood and drought management,
- feel empowered to tackle the climate crisis by providing tangible opportunities at a local scale – helping to improve biodiversity, reduce carbon, mitigate flooding and enhance biodiversity.
Over time, the fruits (well trees!) of their labour will be used to enhance habitat throughout the Eden catchment with native tree species that host native wildlife and connect up habitats.
Approach
As a new venture for ERT, we will learn along with the volunteers, community groups and other partners who are embarking on this adventure with us.
We are working with local people and community groups from the outset in consultation about how they want the tree nursery to look, in design and construction and how it will be managed.
Progress highlights last quarter: Jan 2026 - Mar 2026
- Despite all the previous drainage work, the site was half under water when we arrived for our first session in January. The difference is that this time everybody knew what needed to be done - and how to do it.
- The polytunnel has been a game changer. It’s still very cold but working inside the covers provides shelter from wind and rain for seed prep and potting sessions - and for tea breaks!
- Winter is the season for traditional woodland crafts and this year we have been able to learn more about these techniques on site at the tree nursery. Our ‘demonstration’ willow trees - eared willow and 2 varieties of osier - have been coppiced for cuttings, with the longer osier stems being woven to create a raised bed that will be planted up with wildflower species. This will help us to learn about and boost native ground flora as well as supporting the shrub and canopy planting of our conservation projects.
- Regular volunteers from a range of target audiences (young people, elderly, different ethnicities, social isolation, restricted mobility, mental health, neurodiversity) mix with others who just want to ‘give something back’. This year, one of our younger volunteers has been working to set up a connection between his scout group and ERT to get them involved in more conservation focused opportunities.
Progress highlights to date: Apr 2024 - Dec 2026
- Autumn is full on seed prep time at the tree nursery. A relief from weeding for volunteers.
- A new polytunnel has been installed, making seed prep less exposed to the elements.
- The people and fun are making the tree nursery sessions buzz - and the volunteers returning. They bring their friends and their grandchildren, help with watering and emergency mending outside of regular hours, and act as ambassadors both for the tree nursery and for other aspects of ERT work.
- A corporate group from Heildelberg Materials were impressed and inspired - ‘passionate, interesting, worthwhile’ ‘informative, therapeutic, addictive’ - and hoping to be more involved next year with lots of suggestions for how they could help.
- Trees grown at the nursery have been planted out in conservation project schemes at two farms, Moorside and Colby Laithes, and a new community nature reserve at Knock. Getting to plant out the trees that we have grown justifies and rewards the effort and validates the volunteers contributions like nothing else.
- Volunteers have cleared and prepared the tree nursery site.
- A shed extension has been built to give more shelter/a place to put things.
- Easy-Pave path laid through the site so that wheelchair users can access the tree nursery.
- Hundreds of work party sessions have now been held at the tree nursery, welcoming local people who experience barriers to getting out into nature.
- Multiple training sessions have been held
- We have had two visits from groups interested in setting up a community tree nursery in their area: Shap Community Gardeners & Watchtree Nature Reserve, near Wiggonby.
- Regular volunteers continue to experience a massive amount of pride and ownership for this project. They come in for weeding sessions when there is no regular session and have co-ordinated themselves to cover daily watering during dry spells.
