Eden community tree nursery: Good things come in trees
Part of project: Access to Eden: breaking barriers, building bridges
Thanks to National Lottery Players and Eden District Council, in October 2022 Eden Rivers Trust took control of a plot of land on an allotment in Penrith. The dream? To create a community tree nursery that would open a doorway to conservation; a place accessible to all, where local people, volunteers and community groups could learn about trees and the river and work together; growing and nurturing locally-sourced seeds.
The resulting native saplings will be planted on river conservation sites throughout the Eden catchment; creating food and homes for wildlife; helping manage the flow of water over land and storing carbon.
Follow our progress with Jenni (Volunteer and Community Outreach Coordinator) and the volunteers and community groups who are embarking on this adventure with us.
Read the latest Good things come in trees blog
Or…why not experience the wonderful nursery first hand by coming along to one of our twice weekly work parties to help us grow our saplings.
There’s always lots to do. If you’re up for a spot of painting, planting, building, cleaning, chopping, tidying or digging then we’d love to see you and you’ll be made to feel very welcome!
More information about volunteering and lending a hand at the nursery>
Spring 2025 Update
The Eden Community Tree Nursery is as much about the people who come and help us and the space they’ve made as it is about the trees. Regular plotters (their re-naming) have made close friendships, set up their own WhatsApp group, introduced their mates and support each other outside their involvement with ERT. The sessions are described as ‘me time’, ‘somewhere where I can forget the hassle’, ‘time to re-connect’ and ‘a place where everyone is important’.
After their corporate session last year, Highlights Northwest were inspired to schedule quarterly visits through 2025 – ‘I think it can help me think differently – away from the computer, the spreadsheets, the emails. And it’s lovely to be able to give something back to our local area too.’
Local people are including a visit as part of a lunchtime walk and bring us baby trees they have grown, or sometimes biscuits they have made. One regular visitor comes ‘to be among friends, breathe clean air and share the spring’.
The trees have been equally successful. Seeds prepped and planted have started to sprout a forest of 250 rowan tree seedlings. Working with the seeds and caring for them as they grow has brought our volunteers a wider understanding of both trees and environment and a desire to keep learning more.
In pictures…
Creating our wonderful space in 2022
This project 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. Thanks also to the Garfield Weston Foundation and Penrith Town Council for their support during 2024.