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National Grid Tree Warden Scheme
In partnership with The Tree Council

The Wirral Tree Warden Network is part of The Tree Council's UK-wide Tree Warden Scheme, which is run in partnership with National Grid and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM).

The Tree Council launched the Tree Warden Scheme in 1990 as a national force of volunteers dedicated to their communities' trees - in town, city or countryside. It has co-ordinated it ever since, working with local authorities, voluntary organisations, parish councils and local partnerships to develop Tree Warden networks. Today there are Tree Wardens in communities throughout the UK.

Tree Wardening is a way for volunteers to play an active role in championing their local treescape. Tree Wardens can get involved with a range of activities, from practical projects such as planting and caring for trees to gathering information about local trees and developing imaginative projects to encourage others, including schoolchildren, to value their local trees and woods.

Environmental charity The Tree Council is the UK's lead tree campaigning partnership - an umbrella body for 150 organisations working together for trees. A registered charity, it promotes the planting and conservation of trees in town and country.

What are Tree Wardens?

A definitive description of Tree Wardening can be found on The Tree Council website - www.treecouncil.org.uk .

Here is a summary of what is involved in Tree Wardening, with some local information.

Tree Wardens are people appointed to:

  • gather information
  • give advice
  • encourage practical projects relating to trees in the community.

Tree Wardens are volunteers and give whatever time they feel they can spare (national average 3hrs/wk).

Why are Tree Wardens needed?

Woods, hedgerows and hedgerow trees are being lost from the landscape. Apart from encouraging planting, Tree Wardens can help to reduce the risk of:

  • Disease
  • Insensitive development
  • Neglect
  • Vandalism

A variety of activities can help them do this.

What can Tree Wardens do?

Everyone uses different skills and experience to:

  • gather information - observe, record, research
  • act as local liaison with officials, experts, groups
  • run projects - seed gathering, planting, events
  • protect trees - report disease and damage, and advise on care

The range of Tree Warden activities is very wide.

Tree Wardens DO:

  • act as point of contact for public queries
  • attend training sessions where necessary
  • make links with organisations responsible for trees in the community
  • educate and raise awareness in people of all ages
  • promote sensible and suitable tree planting and care
  • encourage management sensitive to wildlife needs

Tree Wardens DON'T:

  • have any special powers
  • act as vigilantes or be confrontational
  • enter private land without permission
  • tackle work outside their ability or without permission
  • attempt to deal with tree disputes themselves

Who's involved so far?

Groups and organisations represented at meetings to date:

  • Cheshire Landscape Trust (in advisory capacity)
  • Friends of Flaybrick Cemetery
  • Friends of Royden Park
  • Greasby Allotment Holders & Gardeners Association
  • Hoylake & Meols Gardens & Open Spaces Society
  • The Charlesworth Group (council contractors)
  • The Tree Council
  • Wirral Environmental Network (WEN)
  • Wirral Parks and Open Spaces
  • Wirral Society
  • Wirral Way Advisory Group
  • Wirral Wildlife Trust
  • ...and a number of enthusiastic individuals!

Where do we go from here?

Wirral Tree Warden network launched officially in November 2005, and is looking for new members in all areas to increase coverage of Wirral.

Expressions of interest are invited from people who would like to be involved in the network ('Registration of Interest' form is on Contact page).
 
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