Growing towards carbon neutrality

A total of 80 volunteers have signed up to help plant trees and hedgerow at the north coast as part of the Government’s response to the climate emergency.

The Government’s Natural Environment team have joined forces with Jersey Trees for Life and the Jersey Conservation Volunteers to plant the trees, known as ‘whips’, at Sorel on Saturday 23 November.

The Assistant Minister for the Environment, Deputy Gregory Guida, said: “Trees and hedgerows are vital for capturing carbon dioxide as well as enhancing our local habitat’s biodiversity.

“The tree and hedgerow planting at Sorel is part of a bigger conversation with the public around the climate emergency and reducing our emissions. If we are going to be carbon neutral by 2030, we need to not only consume fewer emissions but also enhance our natural environment.”

Bev Dallas-Chapman, Senior Community Fundraiser for Jersey Trees for Life, said that she was keen to get people planting. 

“This event marks the start of National Tree Week and we have a varied programme of planting taking place,” she said. “We are keen to work with businesses and organisations who want to get involved in community initiatives like planting as part of their CSR projects. If people are interested in planting trees on their own land we also run the cheap tree scheme with selling trees and hedging plants with an emphasis on native species to maintain biodiversity.”

Alli Singleton, Jersey Conservation Volunteer, explained: “Planting a tree is one of the easiest and most powerful things you can do to have a positive impact on the environment, and doing this as part of the friendly and like-minded Jersey Conservation Volunteer team is something that makes me feel fulfilled by having done something truly worthwhile.”

The planting will take place in the same week as the Biodiversity Conference 2019, organised by the Jersey Biodiversity Centre in partnership with Jersey Overseas Aid, Jersey International Centre for Advanced Studies, Société Jersiaise and the Government of Jersey’s Natural Environment team. The conference will cover local conservation efforts and Jersey’s overseas efforts to safeguard biodiversity.