Trees: From Seed to Soil
This two-day course will teach you about the life of trees & their journey from a seed to becoming ancient & returning to the soil
Date and time
Location
Crabapple Community
Berrington Hall Housing Cooperative Shrewsbury SY56HA United KingdomAbout this event
- Event lasts 1 day 6 hours
About the course:
This two-day course will teach you about the life of trees and their journey from a seed to becoming ancient & returning to the soil.
Join Kirstin for an exploration into the world of trees. We will learn about seed collection, tree propagation, planting, caring for young & veteran trees and pests & diseases.
Seed collection in the UK is extremely important. Most diseases our native trees suffer from have been imported. By collecting seed locally, propagating and supporting local tree nurseries we can increase local resilience and put less demand on importing trees which could spread pests & diseases.
In addition, caring for our trees as they grow, flourish and even as they die can ensure they have the best chance possible of becoming strong and healthy trees and homes for wildlife.
We will spend some time 'in the classroom', and will explore the grounds of Crabapple & learn to identify our native trees and some exotic ones. We'll visit some of the veteran trees & discuss their cultural importance and value for wildlife.
Plus there will be folklore tales & ethnobotanical uses!
Please note this is a two-day course. Both days start at 10am and finish at 4pm.
Day 1
Session 1: Theory, biology of trees & seeds
Session 2: Tree walk to identify some of our native trees & shrubs & some exotic ones
Day 2
Session 3: Practical on planting
Session 4: Veteran & ancient trees
About Skills for All at Berrington Hall:
This course is part of Skills for All at Berrington Hall, a successfully crowdfunded project to empower, upskill and connect people in practical skills for sustainable living. Thanks to individual supporters and the Shropshire Council Shared Prosperity Community Fund, we are able to offer these places for free to people who live, work or study in Shropshire, particularly 18-25's and members of community groups.
We want to make sure that as many people as possible have this opportunity and that the course is 100% full on the day, so please only book a place if you can definitely attend, and if something changes for you it's really important that you let us know so that we can offer your place to someone else.
About your tutor, Kirstin:
I’m Kirstin. I’m a climbing arborist, conservation ranger & seed collector. My work with and pasison for trees has taken me to Scotland to collect seeds from the tip tops of Douglas fir trees, to Wales to find the oldest yew tree in the UK and to Cornwall to visit the remaining ancient rainforest of the UK.
I’m looking forward to sharing with you some tricks & tips I’ve learned about working with trees from seed to their old age.
More info:
Please see the FAQs below and your confirmation email upon booking (do check your spam/junk folder)
Frequently asked questions
We encourage participants to travel by public transport (altho no local buses on Sundays) or to cycle or share lifts. There is limited free parking space for anyone driving. Please see our travel info sheet: https://1drv.ms/w/c/7fd73f5cba8f3f94/EZHbepeB3vJHu1QYGLYaOXIBFucwMGw-sI3KJSAYzNCOkQ?e=G8cdDy
If you're interested in sharing car/taxi journeys with other participants, please join your course WhatsApp group (after booking, you'll get a confirmation email with a link to join) or email us at crabapplecom@hotmail.com, ideally including your landline or mobile number.
All courses include significant outdoor time. Breaks and lunches may be held indoors, depending on the weather.
Please wear warm, waterproof clothing and outdoor footwear (preferably safety boots - if you have them). Bring a packed lunch (tea and coffee will be provided).
The outdoor areas are grassy, uneven, and often muddy. The main drive and other paths are also uneven. All indoor spaces include at least one step. If this might be an issue for you, please contact us before booking at crabapplecom@hotmail.com
Unfortunately it's not suitable for dogs to accompany their humans on these courses. However, if you need an assistance dog, please email us at crabapplecom@hotmail.com, and we'll see what's possible.
Anyone who runs, volunteers with or otherwise supports a group such as allotment groups, wildlife conservation groups, cycling groups, mental health support groups, activist groups, etc etc!