Jubilee Trees

Growing Native British Trees to Celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee, 2002

Further information

A note about provenance

The increased demand for British native trees and shrubs over the past few years has heightened the issue of the seed origin of planting stock. The Forestry Commission now recommend that foresters create new native woodlands by planting, where possible trees grown from seed collected locally - see in the Forestry Authority Practice Note FCPN8, titled: 'Using Local Stock for Planting Native Trees and Shrubs'. The increased interest in genetic 'localness' of trees has increased the number of small tree 'cottage industry' nurseries, producing trees for a very local niche market. 

The term 'British native-origin' is used to denote stock that has been produced from material originally collected from British populations. This helps prevent the loss of distinct local varieties by pollution of the local gene-pool. Other advantages are that British forms tend to be more resistant to frost and damp than their European counterparts, and flower and fruit at times more appropriate to the British animals that depend on them. 

Although it can be difficult to find guaranteed British native-origin material, the situation is improving as more growers and conservationists realise the importance of using appropriate plants. Over the past four years the charity Flora locale has raised awareness of the need of native flora sources and suppliers and are commencing a Local Seeds for Local Needs Initiative. 

The Woodland Trust only plants in its woods trees which have been grown in the United Kingdom and work towards the conservation of local provenance. For example, at Park Farm, a new 180 acre site within the National Forest, they are planting over 100,000 oak trees which have been grown from seed collected locally in Leicestershire. 

The Woodland Trust owns over 900 woods throughout England, Scotland and Wales and by working in conjunction with a number of tree nurseries they hope to set up schemes so seed can be collected from their woods and then used to grow trees for local planting schemes. By conserving and protecting native tree species they are also conserving the wildlife which depend upon them.

Supplier Code of Practice 

Flora locale and Plantlife - The Wild-plant Conservation Charity, have published the Code of Practice for Collectors Growers and Suppliers of Native Flora to encourage suppliers of native flora to label all stock with its place of native origin, so that buyers can be sure the plants or seed are from native sources. Although nurseries, garden centres and other suppliers who sign up to the Code are being asked to label accurately all native flora and to identify cultivars, the Code is principally aimed at the supply of native flora for large-scale planting projects on farmland, woodland and road verges, where large quantities of wild flower and grass seed, aquatic plants, trees and shrubs are being used to restore biodiversity in the countryside and in towns. By adopting the Code, suppliers will be helping to discourage the large-scale import and use of non-native planting stock from inappropriate sources, which threatens our native biodiversity and undermines the supply and production of genuine British native flora. Copies of the Code are available from Flora locale, priced £3.60. Flora locale is working with the Horticultural Trades Association to extend its Nursery Certification Scheme to cover native plants. The scheme is voluntary. 

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 

Under Section 13 of the above act it is an offence to pick, uproot or intentionally destroy any wild plant. 

Flora for Fauna and Jubilee Trees

To minimize administration costs, most of the organization will be carried out by email and on the internet. 

For further information or to make suggestions: 
E-mail: jubilee.trees@dial.pipex.com 

[Flora for Fauna was launched at a reception in the Temperate House the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. originally set up in 1994 as a special fund in the Linnean Society of London with the support of English Nature and Scottish Natural Heritage, the Natural History Museum and the RSPCA. Due to its rapid growth a company limited by guarantee was formed and in February 1997 it achieved charitable status (no 1060715). It still maintains its close links with The Linnean Society and two of its officers, Professor Christopher Humphries and Dr John Marsden are also officers of the Society.]

 
Page last updated - December 28, 2001  

©2001-2002 Flora for Fauna