Whilst it can go against one’s instincts, the cold weather and darker nights provide optimum conditions for planting out native trees and potting up seeds.

Plants are dormant in the winter months meaning that they suffer less transplant shock when planted or moved, require significantly less water and reap the benefits of a reduction in pests and plant diseases active during the colder months.

At Eden Rivers Trust (ERT), we have long utilised this fallow period between November and March to pot up native seeds and begin the task of planting up to 20 thousand native saplings across the Eden catchment on any given year; made possible by the efforts of our remarkable volunteer team.

Jenni Payne, our Community Engagement & Volunteer Coordinator said,

“We would urge everybody to get along and join us at one of our volunteering days over the winter months. Being able to nurture, pot and plant native trees is the perfect antidote to what can feel like an unproductive and isolating time of the year for a lot of people. You don’t need any previous experience, our volunteers are really welcoming and we run activities across the catchment for all abilities.”

We have organised tree planting days, hedge planting activities and a special Christmas themed ‘Happy Holly Day’ in Penrith on Saturday December 14th. Join us for a walk to collect holly berries, pot up the seeds at our community tree nursery and finish the day making and decorating your own willow star to take away to remember your day.

Jenni said,

“Whether you volunteer for an hour or a day, the smallest intervention goes someway to improving our habitat for plants and wildlife and making the area more resilient to flood events. So why not make it a special ‘holly day’ and help us decorate the Eden catchment with beautiful native trees.”

More information about all of our volunteering events and regular workparty activities is available here>

Volunteering activities and opportunities are provided as part of the Access to Eden: breaking barriers, building bridges partnership led by Eden Rivers Trust with a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.