The importance of trees for wildlife and wellbeing

Emma Chaplin
, 24 December 2022
The importance of trees for wildlife and wellbeing
NCS team © Nicky Bagilhole

By Tom Simpson of the Gatwick Greenspace Partnership 

Throughout this autumn, the Gatwick Greenspace Partnership (GGP) have continued to develop a strong relationship with Manor Green College in Crawley, which has flourished even further thanks to a partnership with Concordia National Citizen Service (NCS).

The GGP Youth Rangers welcomed their first attendee from Manor Green College back in 2019. Word spread fast about the benefits, and by March 2020 a more formalised relationship was forged with three Manor Green students regularly gaining valuable work experience as part of Youth Rangers.

Manor Green College students © Nicky Bagilhole
Manor Green College students © Nicky Bagilhole

Concordia NCS were putting together a programme for Manor Green students to deliver a social action project in their local community, and they got in touch with us. We were only too happy to help.

Working with GGP's Education Officer, Tamara Jewell, Concordia NCS decided on the topic of ‘The Importance of Trees’ and made use of Crawley Borough Council’s ‘tree trail’ at Tilgate Park for the first day of the programme. The students were able to walk in their local greenspace and really connect with the environment, learning about the look, smell and feel of various trees.

Filip © Tamara Jewell
Pictured is Filip, a student who attended Youth Rangers for over two years. During this time he has gained valuable experience using and making tools, wildlife gardening, litter picking, battling birch and bramble, coppicing, hedge laying, getting creative with natural materials, campfire cooking, wildlife surveys and not forgetting his favourite activity building muscles whilst pushing wheelbarrows. © Tamara Jewell

Next was tree planting; GGP donated two young Rowan trees, which had been grown on by our Youth Rangers in their Wildlife Garden and gave advice on how to plant them. The students learned all about the trees, which are fairly small, ideal for the school grounds. Their flowers will provide pollen and nectar for bees and the berries are an important autumn food source for birds.

Ryan Greaves (GGP) donating some Rowan trees grown in the Youth Rangers Wildlife Garden to Nicky Bagilhole (NCS)
Ryan Greaves (right - from GGP) donating some Rowan trees grown in the Youth Rangers Wildlife Garden to Nicky Bagilhole (NCS)

The final day was spent with the students immersed in Upper Picketts Wood, part of Gatwick Airport’s Biodiversity Benchmark Award winning sites, with myself and my colleague Ryan Greaves. Students learned about local wildlife and the importance of trees in the wider landscape, and got their hands dirty helping to manage the woodland habitat by coppicing.

At the end of the final day, the students were presented their graduation certificates around the campfire by Henry Smith, MP for Crawley. Through the “importance of trees” NCS experience, the students developed new skills, learned about conservation and enjoyed spending time together outdoors after the difficult restrictions of lockdown.

A number of Manor Green College Students continue to attend the GGP Youth Rangers, with one former student choosing to continue his journey in volunteering with us after finishing school. Taking action for wildlife and connecting with nature is great for wellbeing and we hope the NCS programme will encourage other young people to do so.

Find out more about Youth Rangers here.

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