CHEW VALLEY PLANTS TREES spoke to Gavin Spittlehouse who is taking brilliant actions to increase tree cover in the Chew Valley.

They opened up by asking Gavin: “You've recently acquired 34 acres in the Chew Valley which you are going to plant out with native woodland. What do you say to people who say we can't afford to lose farm or food growing land (either here in the Chew Valley or even further afield) to trees in this way?”

Gavin said: “There's a balance, we need both food and nature. This site is grade four agricultural land, there's too much clay to be good for growing food but it's fine for woodlands. The trees will also slow the flow of storm water which will help reduce downstream flooding.

“We're not aiming for 34 acres of continuous trees, there's seven acres of open space between groups of trees which gives us space to use for some appropriate food growing as well as wild flowers and lots of woodland edge habitat for nature.”

Chew Valley Plants Trees’ next question was: “How do you go about choosing what trees to grow? How do you know you're planting 'the right tree in the right place?”

Gavin’s answer was: “I picked a very wide range of mostly native trees, with a preference for species which are likely to cope best with the site and with climate change.”

Chew Valley Plants Trees also asked: “Is this the only way we are going to achieve our national tree planting targets or do you foresee something else happening?”

Mr Spittlehouse replied: “A few bigger woodlands are great but we really need many better hedgerows and occasional smaller copses between the woodlands. Every landowner has a part to play and everyone can influence.”

To support Gavin email [email protected]. More about Chew Valley Plants Trees is on the website or email [email protected]