'The trees shall clap their hands' - Isaiah 55 verse 12

Tree Week starts on Sunday November 23rd in South Norfolk, with a church service celebrating the beauty of trees.

Including themed poems, Bible readings and hymns, the service is at All Saint’s Church in Chedgrave from 3pm. It has been organised by South Norfolk Council’s Tree Wardens. Council Chairman the Rev. Clive Hudson is among those taking part.

On Tuesday November 25th, ten specially selected trees will be planted in the Secret Garden in Loddon. Landscape Officer Robin Taylor and Assistant Landscape Officer Tina Gray nominated the Secret Garden project to receive the trees, which have been donated by Barcham Trees of Ely as part of their 25th anniversary celebrations. It is one of only five projects across the country, chosen to receive a selection of trees.

The Secret Garden is a community project, created on land between Loddon First School and Saxon House - a very sheltered Housing with Care Scheme for elderly people. The idea is for the garden to be enjoyed by the young – and the not so young. Children from the school will be planting the trees with the help of South Norfolk Council’s Landscape Officers and Tree Wardens.

There will be a great deal more planting going on later in the week too - Friday November 28th is Tree Collection Day at South Norfolk House. Tree Wardens from twenty-seven parishes across the district will be arriving to collect plants and appropriate spirals, guards etc, in preparation for Tree Planting Weekend – November 28th to 30th.

This year hedge planting is being promoted and there has been such a demand for the hedges they have to be brought in two loads to the council offices. In all, 3km of new hedges will be planted. Robin Taylor, Landscape Officer and one of the organisers of Tree Week, explains the importance of hedges:

“Hedges are accepted as an intrinsic part of South Norfolk's landscape. Many of the hedgerows that we see today are hundreds of years old and some form historic boundaries. Hedgerows often consist of a wide range of plant species and provide a habitat for a variety of wildlife.

Planting new hedges is important as it helps to connect existing hedgerows to provide a larger network for wildlife. Hedges can also create shelter and provide fruit and berries for animals (including us!). Hedgerows can also provide more security, last longer and look much nicer than a fence or wall in rural areas.”

There will also be an exhibition at South Norfolk Council’s offices to mark Tree Week, which will highlight the work of the Tree Wardens.

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