May: Steyning for Trees

Monday 1st May


We are  now enjoying the lovely but also vital blossom on our over 80 trees on verges and 15 newly planted wildlife corridor hedges. Vital for our pollinators so say the Woodland Trust. FLOWER POWER - source Woodland Trust Broadleaf Magazine - Spring 2023

Native trees play a crucial role for pollinators, which means not only butterflies and bees but hoverflies, wasps, moths, beetles and anything that visits plants to drink nectar. 'There is something orchestral about the way blossom bursts.' says the Trust's conservationist Sally Bavin 'because trees have evolved to stagger their flowering to chime with the emergence of different pollinators. Blackthorn strikes up in Feb to give the groggy queen bees their first sweet sip. It blooms through to April, so its perfect for over-wintering butterflies like the comma, small tortoiseshell and brimstone.

April's wild cherry - closely followed by crab apple as the next tranche of moths, beetles and butterflies shake a leg. Then boom - we rise to a crescendo: May when hedgerows explode with blousy hawthorn, rowan erupts in creamy clouds and fruit trees flush frothy pink. That percussion is the peak of the year - its all so thrumming and alive.

But as more blossom dates shift forward, it's easy to see how other trees and plants could creep out of sync. The more specialised the species, the more perilous.'

They mention not planting trees with candyfloss style double petalled blooms. Problem is each extra petal comes at the expense of the nectaries, the nectar bearing parts of the flower.  For pollinators they're a dud.

They need more volunteer recorders for Nature's Calendar. Please sign up now at woodlandtrust.org.uk/record.

Thank you so much to Ellie Coutts of Greenwood... for making a blog about our tree planting at St. Mary's, Bramber. Greenwood is one of the largest tree and plant suppliers in the UK and Ellie is related to one of our committee members: greenwoodplants.co.uk/blog/greenwood-community-steyning-for-trees/ She has been extremely helpful and supplied us with native whips to plant as hedges this year. These do seem to be growing as you can see from the picture, despite the terrible planting conditions we have had this year. Well done our tree planting volunteers for coming out in all weathers..

Do remember to contact us if you would like a tree planted on the verge near you. SFT are happy to pay the major amount of costs for these although a  donation is always welcome. Great to have even more blossom for bees and pollinators in Steyning. The majority of verges are owned by WSCC so we are able to access their excellent scheme which guarantees maintenance.

We are glad that so many other communities are becoming keen to plant trees for their residents and we are often contacted for advice about how we started, funding etc. Good luck particularly to Henfield in their efforts for more tree planting. The Lord Lieutenant's Award was specifically to encourage tree and hedge planting throughout West Sussex, we are so glad that Steyning for Trees efforts are taking root. Many thanks to the Parish Council for their support.

We were very pleased to be invited to Knepp for the Weald to Waves mapping launch, a follow up from our wonderful talk given by Isabella Tree last year which so many of you supported. Unfortunately it had to be cancelled due to Covid but they are hoping to re-schedule it. So keep reading SFT's Newsletters for a report soon!