We created the Eden Community Tree Nursery to grow up native trees from seed and provide a doorway to conservation’ for the local community.

Situated on an allotment in the heart of Penrith, and much loved, it provides an accessible site where local people, volunteers and community groups can learn about trees and work together; growing and nurturing locally-sourced seeds into saplings for planting at conservation sites throughout the Eden river catchment.

As well as weekly volunteer sessions, the tree nursery also benefits from the support of local businesses.

A generous donation from National Gas is enabling us – in collaboration with the community in Penrith and the rural farming community in the Eden Valley – to grow more locally-provenanced trees at the Eden Community Tree Nursery, plant new hedges, teach hedge laying techniques to maintain ancient hedgerows, directly improve soil on up to 10 farms, and provide soil management advice to up to 30 farms across  the Eden Valley.

National Gas also brought over a team of 12 employees to lend us a helping hand at the tree nursery as part of its own corporate volunteering programme.

It’s said that a change is as good as a rest. After the amazing amount of digging and shovelling that the National Gas team contributed to install mini French drains around the tree nursery site, they might easily say that a change followed by a rest is closer to the truth.

Jenni Payne, Community Engagement & Volunteer Coordinator said:

This is absolutely fantastic! Thank you so much to the National Gas team who really got stuck in to help us with the drain for the tree nursery. This allotment plot has always flooded badly, but the drain will mean that we can use the whole of the plot to its maximum potential whatever the weather. In addition, we now have a space where we can put up a polytunnel to protect young plants and our workforce from the worst of the Cumbrian elements.

Ian Dunwell, Senior Project Manager at National Gas said:

“It’s good to be able to support such a forward-thinking conservation charity. Our staff had a great day out and really enjoyed the opportunity to contribute a bit of extra muscle power at the tree nursery. It was fast and furious and lots of fun and rewarding to see how much we could help support the inspiring work of Eden Rivers Trust and its brilliant volunteers.”

If you’d like to experience the tree nursery first hand, you can join in one of our regular weekly sessions held on Tuesday afternoons and Friday mornings. You’ll be made to feel very welcome by regular volunteers and our staff and get the opportunity to try a wide range of activities – from planting and potting or weeding and watering to site development and maintenance, painting, building, tidying and digging – and all rewarded with tea and cake!

For more information about volunteering opportunities, or how your business can support the work of Eden Rivers Trust, visit our website at: www.edenriverstrust.org.uk  

The Eden Community Tree Nursery is supported by the Access to Eden: breaking barriers, building bridges partnership project led by Eden Rivers Trust with a grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.