National Tree Week (26 November – 5 December 2022) is the UK’s largest annual tree celebration.

A range of events are taking place in Torbay during National Tree Week. Torbay Council is working together with Treeconomics, SWISCo, Saving Devon’s Treescapes, Hi-Line, the Tree Council, Shekinah Grow to promote the events and encourage participation locally.

Trees play an important role in Torbay’s work to tackle climate change and create a carbon neutral Torbay. Benefits of trees include absorbing and storing carbon emissions, improving air quality, helping keep our homes cool, helping to reduce flood risk, and much more.

Activities for the public during National Tree Week include tree planting events at Westerland Valley, a tree giveaway event at St Mary’s Park in Brixham and tree ‘rehoming’ events for those who have unwanted trees so these can be dropped off to be ‘rehomed’ as part of Torbay Council’s commitment to getting the right tree in the right place.

During National Tree Week, Torbay will also be publishing its new i-Tree report which shows how tree canopy cover has changed across the Bay over the past decade. This is a joint report by Treeconomics, Torbay Council and SWISCo and local Tree Warden volunteers have also got involved in helping complete the survey.

The report will first of all be presented to local Tree Warden volunteers before being made public.

Leader of Torbay Council Steve Darling said: “National Tree Week is a fantastic opportunity for people in Torbay to connect with nature and recognise the benefits of trees. So please do get involved with one of the local events, or why not think about joining our volunteer Tree Warden scheme?

“It’s also an opportunity for us to thank our local Tree Warden volunteers for what they’ve done so far, and we also look forward to publishing the i-Tree report for Torbay. This will help us plan where future trees can be planted, along with the feedback Tree Wardens already gave us at a series of local workshops last year.”

Councillor Mike Morey, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure, Environment and Culture for Torbay

Council said: “In 2019 Torbay Council declared a climate emergency and trees are a key element to helping tackle climate change.

“It’s one of a number of measures we are bringing in to help the planet including new solar farms,

encouraging more walking and cycling and electric vehicle charging points, increasing recycling rates and tackling fuel poverty.

“We launched our Carbon Neutral Council Action Plan earlier this year and in December we will be consulting with our partners on the new Torbay Climate Partnership Action Plan, so watch this space.”

Activities the Tree Wardens in Torbay been involved within Torbay so far include:

• supporting the COVID Memorial Tree Trail(working with Torbay Green Spaces Forum); 
• planting new trees around the perimeter of Galmpton Football Club;
• planting a Jubilee Tree at Babbacombe.
• Tree Warden volunteers have also participated in workshops to identify where trees could potentially be planted in Torbay, and, working with Treeconomics and SWISCo, supported the new i-Tree tree canopy survey which compares tree canopy cover now with ten years ago.

Events taking place during Tree Week

Saturday 26 November Westerland Valley, 2pm, organised by Groundwork South - contact Emily.tyack@groundwork.org.uk

Tuesday 29 November St Mary’s Park Brixham, 2pm to 5pm, Tree giveaway event organised by Saving Devon's Treescapes - contact jatkinson@devonwildlifetrust.org

Also during this event there will be a tree rehoming event - bring your unwanted trees - organised by SWISCo - contact hannah.worthington@swisco.co.uk

Wednesday 30 November, 4pm - 6pm, Westerland Valley - Tree planting organised by Groundwork South - contact Emily.tyack@groundwork.org.uk

Also during this event there will be a tree rehoming event - bring your unwanted trees - organised by SWISCo - contact hannah.worthington@swisco.co.uk

Wednesday 30 November, Blue Walnut Cafe - Tree Week reception event for Tree Wardens at Blue Walnut Café and cinema, organised by Treeconomics, SWISCo and Torbay Council. Please note that this is a Tree Warden invite only event. If you want to join the Tree Wardens scheme email TreeWarden@torbay.gov.uk 

Thursday 1 December - Publication of i-Tree report today (to be published on Treeconomics and Torbay Council websites. This is a joint project by Treeconomics, SWISCo and Torbay Council.

Saturday 3 December,

Cricketfield Community Garden, 11am to 2pm, Tree re-homing’ drop off point at Cricketfield Community Garden, organised by SWISCo. Contact

Hannah Worthington, SWISCo Hannah.worthington@swisco.co.uk