Sidmouth Arboretum: Treeconomics at the 2015 AGM

Sidmouth is a very special place - as an observer noted a century ago, and noticed by a correspondent:

Extract from the London Standard, 1913:

‘SIDMOUTH. Glorious weather still obtains at Sidmouth, and this rapidly growing but still old-time health resort is now looking perfect with its wealth of trees and foliage.’

A week ago saw the AGM of the Sidmouth Arboretum:
Futures Forum: Sidmouth Arboretum: AGM: Tuesday 27th January

There are several projects ongoing:
Futures Forum: Greening the streets of Sidmouth
Futures Forum: Greening car parks in Sidmouth
Futures Forum: Sidmouth Arboretum: where would you like a tree planting?

One of the most interesting projects the Arboretum is undertaking is the Tree Survey - using 'Treeconomics':
Futures Forum: Arboretum: Tree Survey: "It will give us all an unparalleled understanding of the current value of Sid Valley trees, including their potential for mitigating climate change."

Here is a very handy report on the AGM from the East Devon Watch website:

TREECONOMICS

28th January 2015

The value of trees was a major theme at last night’s Sidmouth Arboretum AGM (held in the Annie Leigh Browne Room, Old Unitarian Church).

Guest speaker AONB Manager Chris Woodruff, gave an informal but very informative presentation on the aesthetic, social, environmental, and economic benefits of trees.. 

He spoke of the value to the local economy of modifying the woodland environment (for example, the profitable provision of family attractions at Haldon Hills). Wood for fuel is in increasing demand, and local woodburning stove company, Stovax, saw sales rise by 50% last year. But England has a surprisingly low percentage of sustainably managed woodland, (barely half) compared with the other UK countries. Another surprise Chris Woodruff mentioned, is that hedges, i.e. “vertical woodland”, are not included in such surveys.

Meanwhile, Sidmouth Arboretum now has a Transatlantic link! It is working in partnership with the American organisation, Treeconomics, on a tree survey being specifically adapted for our local environment. Following Sidmouth’s lead, two other towns (Crawley,and Lewis, in Sussex) are currently establishing a civic arboretum.

The value of trees is increasingly being recognised….!
More info here Treeconomics

Treeconomics | East Devon Watch
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