A Celebration of Trees > photos and thanks

A great time was had by all at last week's Arboretum event:
Futures Forum: A Celebration of Trees > Friday 30th November > stalls, songs, talks, quiz, snacks, bar...

Or so it seems:

Story-telling from Jon Freeman

Mousey display from the National Trust

Intent attention from attendees

Prize-giving from quiz-master Ed Dolphin

Song and movement from Sid Vale Folk

Sidmouth Arboretum - Home | Facebook

With a thank-you in today's letters pages of the Herald:

“The Sidmouth Arboretum would like to thank all those who generously gave their time to enlighten and entertain us all at last Friday’s Celebration of Trees.

Firstly, we are very grateful to Nikki and her team at Kennaway House for their as-ever professional preparation of the Cellar Bar for the occasion.

The evening was kicked off by the joyous melodies of Tess Bisson and the Sid Vale Folk, all in good voice and filling the space with songs celebrating trees.

A big thanks too to our speakers – to John Wilding MBE, head of Forestry and Environment at Clinton Devon Estates; to Tracey West of Word Forest, based in Lyme Regis but doing fantastic work with reforestation projects in Kenya; and to Jon Freeman of the Clyst Valley Ancient Trees project who gave us a wonderfully lively rendition of a folk tale from the wilds of old Scandinavia.

The fantastic array of stalls from other tree-minded groups added to the variety of the evening, including: Devon Wildlife Trust, Friends of the Byes, Forestry Commission, National Trust, Sid Vale Association, Sid Valley Bat Research Project and Sidmouth Rotary Club.

Not forgetting our thanks to local woodturners Diana and Martin Russell and to local artist Cherry Ferris and her beautiful pyrography work – who brought in craft as seasonal gifts to take away.

And thank you to all the members of the public who turned up to join in the fun.

We at the Sidmouth Arboretum look forward to seeing everyone again next year at our Celebration of Trees.”

Sidmouth and Ottery breaking news and sport - Sidmouth Herald
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A Celebration of Trees > Friday 30th November > stalls, songs, talks, quiz, snacks, bar...

Last Saturday saw Sidmouth's first Tree Dressing:

Sidmouth Arboretum added 7 new photos to the album Tree Dressing 2018 — at Sidmouth Parish Church

24 November at 10:42 · 

The Arboretum's first annual tree dressing to celebrate Tree Charter Day. The awful weather didn't dampen enthusiasm.

Sidmouth Arboretum - Home | Facebook
Futures Forum: Tree-dressing at Sidmouth Parish Church > decorating a veteran yew > Saturday 24th November

And tomorrow sees more celebration of trees:

Sidmouth Arboretum 
Futures Forum: A Celebration of Trees > Friday 30th November
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Sidmouth Arboretum > tree planting and tree labelling

The Arboretum has been very busy of late with plans for the coming year:
Futures Forum: Sidmouth Arboretum > tree planting, tree trail leaflets, guided walks and raising of awareness

It has already started: 

Hundreds of trees added to Sidmouth’s ‘secret’ forest

PUBLISHED: 17:45 19 March 2018

Beth Sharp

The volenteers pleased with their work.

More than 200 trees have been planted in Sidmouth’s ‘secret’ forest.

Members of the town’s rotary club joined Sidmouth College students and spent three hours helping to expand the wooded area bordering the Sid Vale Scout Centre, on Salcombe Regis Road.

The volunteers managed to plant numerous hornbeam, holly, field maple and hazel trees which create a whole new grove.

They were planted as part of an on-going partnership between Sidmouth Rotarians and Sidmouth College.

It all began as a ‘Save Planet Earth’ initiative launched by Rotary International. Over the years more than 4,000 trees have been planted in various locations with the help of students, Rotarians and the town Arboretum.

Sandy Macfadyen, the rotary club’s environmental organiser said: “We have planted trees every year since the early 1990s.

“They all add to the charm of the town.”

Hundreds of trees added to Sidmouth’s ‘secret’ forest | Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald

And then there is the question of how much help do we want when we take a walk through the woods and trees of the Valley: 

Added extras on the tree trails in Sidmouth

PUBLISHED: 07:00 18 March 2018 | UPDATED: 09:02 20 March 2018

Golden copse. Picture: Diana East

There is so much information about trees but Diana East, president of Sidmouth Arboretum asks how much should be included at each site.

Yellow wittch hazel. Picture: Diana East

A blue tit was singing from high on a silver birch in January when it was mild and damp, and the tree surgeons were so busy trying to fit in all their customers before the bird nesting season brings an end to certain jobs.

Though the silver birch had bare branches at that time, there are some early flowers on trees and shrubs such as witchhazel, acacia and shrubby honeysuckle.

These appear before the daffodils under the woodland canopy brighten our walks in March.

Witchhazel is a small shrubby tree, and has weird spider-like flowers and attractive autumn leaf colour, and remembering I would find them in flower, I went up to the Sid Vale Association’s Margaret’s Meadow to visit Golden Copse and their yellow flowered witchhazel (Hamamelis mollis) and sure enough they were performing magnificently.

Golden copse label. Picture: Diana East

They have only a faint scent, but are brilliant yellow, and if you gently shake a branch, the petals rain down to the grass below.

Not all witchhazels are yellow, however, and I have a red-flowered version, which doesn’t stand out so well in the landscape.

Anyway the SVA have recently put labels on the trees in Golden Copse and not only is this one way of learning about tree names, but it is a great way to enhance a walk on the many footpaths of the valley.

Sidmouth Arboretum has three tree trail leaflets and it would be good practice to label some of the trees that are on the leaflet walks and some which are mentioned as of particular interest in the text.

Red witch hazel. Picture: Diana East

The question is how much information do you include on the label?

In botanical collections, it is usual to give the Latin name and the common name, together with a number relating to a database, and in some cases the country or region of origin of the plant.

In addition, the Sidmouth Arboretum label shown includes a QR code, which links to the website and allows you to find out even more about the tree in question.

But perhaps that is too much information and just a number and Latin name would suffice.

Arboretum label. Picture: Diana East

More discussion is needed and, of course, we don’t own the trees, so we will work with the land owners and groups such as Friends of the Byes and the relevant tree officer to agree a suitable type of label.

Sidmouth Arboretum Tree Trail leaflets for Sidbury and Salcombe Regis have just been relaunched and are available from the Tourist Information Centre and locally.

So next time you walk round our valley, you too may notice the tree name, as well as its flowers and the birds that so often draw my attention up into the tree canopy.

Added extras on the tree trails in Sidmouth | Latest Sidmouth and Ottery News - Sidmouth Herald
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Sidmouth Civic Arboretum - celebrating five years

The Arboretum has been active over the summer:
Futures Forum: Sidmouth Civic Arboretum - summer newsletter

And so into the autumn and winter...

This is the piece from this month's 'Resident' magazine from the Herald:


THE NEED FOR TREES

27th October 2017

SIDMOUTH ARBORETUM is celebrating 5th anniversary – originating from a Chamber of Commerce idea, the Arboretum was officially ‘adopted’ on 10 May 2012. Sidmouth Arboretum will be a civic arboretum for the entire Sid Valley:

• a celebration of our tree heritage
• a commitment to plant more trees for future generations
• a determination to improve the visual welcome

Later in 2012 The Arboretum planted a colourful maple Acer rubrum ‘Brandywine’ in Long Park, under the guidance of dendrologist Hugh Angus, formerly of Westonbirt, the National Arboretum and Cllr Stuart Hughes. 

This was joined in 2014 by a silver maple, donated by Chris Wale and M to mark their silver wedding anniversary. Trees are a long term project – both these maples are doing well in Long Park and show the importance of planting Right tree, Right place.

We have begun to record our veteran (old and interesting) trees, such as the gingko and dawn redwood in private gardens on Sidmount/Elysian Fields, or the oak teetering on the edge of the Sid river near Margarets Meadow, and the Cork oak at Sidbury.

In 2014 we undertook the iTree survey on a valley wide basis. This was a huge undertaking of volunteers who were trained and guided by Kenton Rogers of Treeconomics, and we had the treat of gaining access to some wonderful landscapes and private woods further up the valley. This work is on-going as we have not managed to extract a full report, but should repeat the process in 2024 to really understand the range and changes to our landscape which will be enjoyed by future generations.

We have begun to record our veteran (old and interesting) trees, such as the gingko and dawn redwood in private gardens on Sidmount/Elysian Fields, or the oak teetering on the edge of the Sid river near Margarets Meadow, and the Cork oak at Sidbury.

With the help of Rotary, through Sandy McFadyen, we have involved children in planting trees. One year we created the group of shrubs and trees on the triangle opposite Waitrose on East Devon DC land. Then we work with land owners – gaining permission from Highways to plant on the Sid Road, from the Town Council on various sites, from the District Council on the Knowle for instance. Not to mention a planting of unusual fruit trees in a sheltered corner in anticipation of warmer summers. A hawthorn in Market Place, Wollemi pine in the garden of Belmont Hotel where we occasionally visit on guided walks. A lime in Knowle parkland, a mulberry on Knapp Copse.

At the January 2017 AGM Jon Ball became chairman of Sidmouth Civic Arboretum.

"I read Environmental Science at university and have had an interest in environmental issues throughout my working life. I am now semi-retired and as a result have more time to give to these interests. I am a volunteer for the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme, participate in conservation work for EDDC on their reserves and became involved with the Arboretum through the tree survey carried out a few years ago.

"Trees have always been important to me, being such an integral part of the scenery in the Sid valley. Trees are very important to the landscape, to our well being and in keeping the atmosphere clean. Sidmouth has a wonderful tree heritage which the Arboretum is seeking to maintain by good maintenance and new planting. Getting the message over about trees to the local population, particularly the children, is key to making the Arboretum a success."

This year we introduced a new children’s event, which took place at Sidholme Hotel gardens. The year 5 children had a great day out – learning about leaf shapes, and touching the bark of different trees – a great success to be repeated in 2018. Kevin Croucher of Thornhayes Nursery has generously led walks in Sidbury and this year in Sidmouth, where Powys invited us into their lovely grounds on the corner of Station Road.

The Tree Trail leaflets – which have been a feature of the Arboretum work since its inception – are to be relaunched this autumn. The Sid Vale Association Keith Owen Fund have been a major sponsor of these leaflets, which are distributed free by volunteers; and offer circular walks in Sidmouth, Sidbury and Salcombe Regis – with special attention paid to the trees of course.!

The visual welcome must be maintained whether through the good work of Sidmouth In Bloom, or in private gardens or public spaces. Young trees need to be planted to replace the aging Monterey pines so characteristic of the urban roof line, and self-sown sycamore that sometimes invade.

This winter further planting will take place and a maintenance programme organised to include monthly work parties. With a strengthened committee the Arboretum will attend more events – meet us at Science Festival on October …. 

And pop in to Kennaway House on 24 November for the annual Celebration of Trees – music and gifts and fun with trees.

Sidmouth and Ottery breaking news and sport - Sidmouth Herald
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Beach Management Plan: "We cannot and will not request that expert advice is altered because some stakeholders are not getting the answers they wish to hear."

There is considerable confusion over what exactly has been chosen to protect the seafront:
Futures Forum: Beach Management Plan: Option 4b or not 4b >>> or: how to ignore everyone else's opinion 

It does seem that there has been a real difference of opinion as to how we have got to where we are:

Beach plan gets £54,000 despite project management concerns

By Peter Hodges - July 26, 2016

Option '4b' – illustrates how a more oblique angled offshore breakwaters layout could look

EAST Devon District Council’s Cabinet has approved £54,000, worth of funding towards the Sidmouth and East Beach Management Plan which will enable the planning stage of the process to be completed.

The costs of the project had risen as a result of a number of changes to it throughout its course, including requests from the steering group for additional work such as analysis by CH2M (the consultants on the scheme) to take into account local people’s anecdotal evidence and to provide a more detailed appraisal of the long list of options. The steering group is made up of statutory bodies such as the Environment Agency and Natural England, as well as community groups such as the Sid Vale Association and Vision Group for Sidmouth who provide valuable representation of local people.

Following public, council and steering group consultation, feedback suggested that an alternative option ‘4b’ was the preferred choice of the plans being put forward.

Around a third of those who responded in the consultation were in favour of the alternative ‘option 4b’, to remove the current rock groynes on the beach, construct more rock breakwaters further out to sea (similar to those already in place – at Sidmouth Town Beach) and periodically replenish and recycle the shingle.

However, concerns have been raised about the process of choosing the options, with two of the steering group members, East Devon District Councillors Cathy Gardner and Matt Booth, saying the steering group didn’t see the alternative option until the day after the public consultation held at Kennaway House.

In a joint statement Cllrs Gardner and Booth said: “An additional option was proposed at the meeting in January and an interim meeting agreed by the Chair to discuss it and to further discuss concerns held by steering group members about all of the options before the options were approved. That meeting did not take place and attempts to hold separate meetings to discuss concerns with the options were denied by EDDC.

“EDDC approved the options independently of the steering group, but took them to public consultation as if they had been approved by the steering group. That remains the case in the latest press release with regards to input on the options from SVA, VGS, Sailing Club, fishermen etc. This is misleading.

“The additional option was not discussed by the steering group until June 16th, the day after the public exhibition of the four options. After some discussion at that meeting it was agreed that the additional option, Option 4b, would be added to the website and in the press. However, a number of people expressed difficulty with accessing the website and making comments online.

“As Tony Burch (Assistant Project Manager and Senior Technical Consultant) and Tony Flux (who holds a senior position within the National Trust and a member of the BMP steering group) have both said it is essential that all options are exhausted to get this right – including tank testing. It is of great concern that this is being set up as a cost saving exercise and only one option will be tank tested. There is a real danger that it will not produce a result that will be approved by the Environment Agency or DEFRA and will not attract the partner funding that will be essential to deliver it.

“We are also troubled by the management of the project by EDDC and steering group governance which is not consistent with the BMP Terms of Reference. The Chair should be completely independent and act on behalf of the interests of all members of the steering group at all times. Cllr Moulding has shown in his recent letter to the media and other actions and statements that his own objective is that of EDDC.

“While we try at all times to work with the strategic management team at EDDC we have a duty to the electorate to raise issues where we believe we see them. It is very difficult to do so if we are not consulted on issues in our ward. We were voted in with a large mandate last May to a large extent because of the lack of transparency of East Devon District Council and the number of key issues including the BMP and Port Royal development that were due. We have not been invited onto the BMP steering group even though we are ward members. The BMP public consultation has given us reason to be concerned about the Port Royal scoping study and public consultation. Again this is something that we as ward members, since it was approved at Cabinet in January, have not been consulted on.”

Beach plan gets £54,000 despite project management concerns

This difference of opinion persists:

Chairman of Sidmouth Beach Management Plan denies project issues

By Peter Hodges - July 27, 2016

THE chairman of Sidmouth’s Beach Management Plan has called allegations about the transparency of the project unfair and unfounded.

Reported earlier this week, two East Devon District Councillors had raised concerns about the project and apparent lack of transparency.

In a statement Cllr Andrew Moulding read: “In terms of transparency, the Beach Management Plan process has been conducted in a completely open and clear-cut manner. You only have to look at the council’s website to see the wealth of information that has been made public. Furthermore, the Steering Group has an open and inclusive membership, including statutory bodies, including the Environment Agency and Natural England, as well as community groups such as the Sid Vale Association and Vision Group for Sidmouth, who provide valuable representation of local people.

“In my capacity as Chairman of the Steering Group, I have welcomed ward members and other stakeholders onto the group and ensured that all have an opportunity to make their views known to the group. All ward members are on the Steering Group mailing list and have been attending the meetings, contributing, and receiving the agenda and documents.

“Officers have had extensive email correspondence with the Steering Group and ward members explaining all aspects of the project whenever a query has been raised. Our recent public consultation event is another example of how transparent the process has been.

“It is worth remembering that the role of the Steering Group is to advise the Project Team and act as a critical friend. A reminder of the terms of reference were considered by the group at their last meeting, and have been included on our website.

“The council has been keen to take account of a wide variety of views throughout the BMP process, including the statutory partners, and individuals and organisations that are not represented on the Steering Group.

“Officers have given ward members a briefing on the project and stated at the time that if they want further briefings they only had to request them. No requests have been made.

“It should also be noted that we have internationally respected consultants working on this project who have extensive expertise in the subject and access to highly specialist advice. We are also following a nationally recognised process and good practice for producing a Beach Management Plan. The process ensures that there is a robust evidence base for beach management, and all of our statutory partners have confirmed that we have a fit for purpose process.

“We are working very closely with and have the support of the Environment Agency who will ultimately administer the grant for any beach management scheme. Healthy challenge is welcome, but we do need to respect the advice being provided by experts who have repeatedly addressed the issues raised. However, we cannot and will not request that expert advice is altered because some stakeholders are not getting the answers they wish to hear.”

Chairman of Sidmouth Beach Management Plan denies project issues

Here is the digital version: 
Pulmans View from Sidmouth - digital edition
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Climate Week in Sidmouth: letter of thanks

There has been considerable follow-up to the Climate Week set of events:
Vision Group for Sidmouth - Climate Week in Sidmouth ... feedback on the 2016 events

This week's Herald sported a letter of thanks to all who took part:

Letter to the Editor

A BIG THANK YOU FOR MAKING CLIMATE WEEK HAPPEN

Dear Sir,

The Vision Group for Sidmouth and the Science Festival would like to thank everyone involved in the success of Climate Week 8th to 11th March.

Thank you to the University of Exeter and Dr Ewan Woodley for his presentation on extreme weather at the Café Scientifique at Kennaway House.

Thank you to the New Economics Forum and the TourFish project for introducing us to the notion of ‘responsible tourism’ in the context of making coastal communities more resilient in the face of climate and other changes to come.

Thank you to all those groups who took part in the ‘Climate Variety Show’ - Tess Bisson and the SidVale Folk Choir; renaissance man Steve Potter; Joel Venn and RegenSW; Diana East and the Sidmouth Arboretum; Treeconomics with Kenton Rogers; the Devon Wildlife Trust; Clinton Devon Estates officers Kate Ponting and Dr Sam Bridgewater; Sandy McFadyen of the Rotary Club of Sidmouth; Sustrans with Michael Brittain and Graham Heysett; Graeme Tweedy from the Campaign Against Climate Change; Go Vegan and Sharon Howe; and Sustainability Frontiers with David Selby.

Thank you also to the College, St John’s School, Sidmouth Primary and Newton Poppleford Primary for taking part in a host of activities on climate change.

And finally, a big thank you to Kennaway House who were as ever supportive.

And the Keith Owen Fund for funding the hiring of the Cellar Bar at Kennaway House and to Lush, although this does not imply endorsement of any participating group.

The Climate Week brought together a huge variety of opinion and approaches, lots of different proposals and projects – and the VGS and Science Festival look forward to taking these forward and engaging further.

Yours,

Dave Bramley

On behalf of the Science Festival and the VGS

Breaking news & sport in Sidmouth | Sidmouth Herald
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Climate Week in Sidmouth: The Climate Variety Show >>> Friday 11th March @ 7pm >>> update >>>

The grande finale of the Climate Week in Sidmouth will be a 'variety show':
Futures Forum: Climate Week in Sidmouth: The Climate Variety Show >>> Friday 11th March

Please note that there will be a later start to the event: 7pm rather than 6pm.

It will include songs from the SidVale Folk Choir:
Futures Forum: Climate Week in Sidmouth: The Climate Variety Show >>> Friday 11th March >>> Singing for the Climate with the SidVale Folk Choir

With vegetarian and vegan food throughout the evening. Plus bar and refreshments.

The evening will be a mixture of talks and plenty of breaks to see what stalls have to offer.

As well as those organisations already mentioned, plenty of key groups will be showcasing their work during the evening:

Rotary Club of Sidmouth home page

Devon Wildlife Trust | Nature Reserve Conservation & Charity

Campaign against Climate Change |

Homepage - CosyDevon CosyDevon

With more to come!

See also:
Futures Forum: Climate Week in Sidmouth: "Extreme Weather: how we manage risks" >>> Cafe Scientifique with Dr Ewan Woodley from the University of Exeter >>> Tuesday 8th March
Futures Forum: Climate Week in Sidmouth: TOURFISH: Making Coastal Communities Resilient >>> Wednesday 9th March >>> "Responsible Tourism and Blue Economic Growth"

And: Sidmouth Science Festival - Home
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Otter Valley Festival: Saturday 30th May

Ottery St Mary will be offering a fun day in two weeks' time.

Organised by the Rotary Club...
Rotary Club of Otter Valley home page
Otter Valley Festival hope - News - Sidmouth Herald



With an active Facebook page...
Otter Valley Festival - Official | Facebook

Cycling is at the heart of the Festival:
Bike Events Event Calendar

Otter Valley Festival

Ottery St Mary Football Ground

Saturday 30th May 2015

• HOME
• CYCLE RIDE
• AFTERNOON EVENTS
• MUSIC FESTIVAL
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Sponsored Cycle Ride

Your opportunity to enjoy a cycle ride through the beautiful East Devon countryside and raise money for our chosen charities

Afternoon Events

A programme of Fun Bike Competitions, Games and Sideshows staged in the Ottery St. Mary Football Ground

Music Festival

The Top Queen Tribute Band, Rhapsody leads the evening music with support from

8 Local Groups

Otter Valley Festival.
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