Based on the World Resources Institute’s recently published Forest and landscape restoration Map, we have identified Ireland as a key area for future reforestation. Over the coming months, we intend to begin researching the possibilities of starting school tree nurseries in Ireland.

We have created a map showing all the schools working with us to plant school tree nurseries. The native trees are taken care of by the children and then used to restore degraded land in their local community – the trees combat soil erosion, fight drought, give us oxygen, and provide habitats for wildlife. Here is a snapshot:

You can also view our interactive map and see all the schools working with us from the UK and worldwide!

(Our new programme starting up shortly)

The Tree Rescue Centre is a new tree nursery starting up in East Sussex, managed by the Earth Restoration Service Charity.  We will address the growing concern for native trees in the UK and especially those that are becoming endangered and rare in the landscape.  There will be a selection of species grown: Junipers, Aspen, Whitebeams, Black Poplars, Wild Service Trees and more.

We will plant the trees in the landscape where appropriate.  A board of advisers will assist in this process. The rare trees will bring awareness to the plight of biodiversity and what we can do to restore it.

The main tree nursery will be situated in East Sussex and will be managed by ERS.  There will be trees available for those who would like to plant them out privately if location is deemed suitable.   Advice will be given for those who take part and plant trees onto their private land or in other areas.

Our ethical standing in growing these trees are that we plant “an appropriate tree for an appropriate place”. We will be working from the standpoint that the rare trees are all of UK origin and are native (certificates of provenance will be provided whenever possible).

I have written this story from a fragment of myth that exists today about the River Dolphin.  It is a tragic event that the River Dolphin of the Yangtze is now extinct, we can keep the Dolphin alive in the story and not forgotten.  Please use this story if it can encourage discussion on the phases of extinctions that are taking place in our children’s world today.

Andreas Kornevall – Director of Operation, ERS

The Story of the Baiji River Dolphin

In the year 354 BC, there was a young Princess who lived on a tall sailing ship called the Dragon of the White Jade.  The ship was built by Master Chen, China’s greatest ship builder; it had over one hundred rooms, all of them richly decorated with gold and silver carvings depicting the life on the Yangtze River.  When the ship set sail, the villagers gathered alongside the river banks to celebrate with the Emperor and his consort. Princess Baiji was loved by all her people, she was vivacious and always cheerful and many could hear her laughter and her joy was felt from afar.  She would rarely leave the river, she spent days swimming, collecting shells and pebbles along the lush river banks.

But her carefree life could not last forever.  Her father, the Emperor, believed she was wasting her life away swimming in the currents and running on the river banks.   He decided that she should marry a great Prince and he made the declaration to the whole Empire before Princess Baiji was informed.  It was a momentous occasion and everyone rejoiced and began preparations for a lavish wedding on the Dragon of the White Jade.

Princess Baiji was the last to find out.   When she was summoned to her father, she was given a list of duties she would have to perform as the wife of the Prince.  The Emperor sent her away to prepare for her new commitments to the Prince.  During this time of preparation for her wedding, she learned that her life would no longer be spent swimming along the warm currents of the river, or ever having time to admire the shimmering waters with their hidden shells and jade stones.  She became heartbroken.

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Two and a half weeks ago, we helped to start a school tree nursery in La Hesperia, Ecuador.  The species planted out were  native palms, jigua and aguacatillo (all native from the cloud forest).  We will get regular updates, here are some recent pics:

Species seen in the newly planted meadows just 6-8 months since we started our Flutter Flower Programme include; Large Skipper butterflies, Small Coppers, Peacock, Meadow Browns, Gate Keeper, Speckled Wood, Green Veined Whites, Small Whites, and Large Whites, Comma, Red Admirals. On top of this other Invertebrates seen making use of the habitat included Bees; (Honey, Bumble, and Solitary), Soldier beetles, White Lipped Banded snails, 3 types of Shield Bugs, 5 types of spider, many other species of ground beetles, ants and flies also.

The School Tree Nurseries Programme enrolled more than 100 schools in the UK this year. We now have 300 Schools with active tree nurseries. The effect of this work is becoming clearer to see; the Woodland Trust claims 90 native trees constitutes a “woodland” habitat and this year we supplied over 21,000 trees to schools creating as many as 230 new woodlands. In terms of ecological restoration this translates into wildlife habitats, green corridors, protection from flooding, degraded areas restored, tonnes of Co2 absorbed (1 tonne per tree* according to the carbon trust), and new green spaces for the community to enjoy. Since the programme has started, we have now engaged over 40,000 children in this work.  Lets have an even better 2012!

Andreas Kornevall – Director of Operations