The tree nursery site is one of the Bridle Way allotments in Epsom. We accept donations of native species from local people, and for specific projects, from the Woodland Trust. We currently have several species of tree including: rowan, holly, birch, hornbeam, oak, horse chestnut, walnut, ash and black poplar. At any one time we are likely to have between 400 and 1000 small trees on site. They range in size from 10 cm high to over 2 metres tall. The plan for all our trees is to get them planted out and we have been successful in doing this. In the last year we have planted out or donated to others for planting, almost 500 trees, including: at Charlwood nature reserve, Horton Country park, Horton chapel, Long Grove Age Concern garden, Epsom Club, St Marys Cuddington tree giveaway and the Old Malden community garden.
The tree nursery is run by EETAB volunteers. We have to keep the trees in pots, to avoid the roots going too deep into the ground and being difficult to transfer when ready for planting. This of course means a lot of watering in the summer during dry periods. To try and mitigate the need for watering we have dug some trenches to bury the pots. This keeps them cooler for longer and avoids them getting too hot (see
picture). In addition we: try to keep the pots weeded, so the trees are not competing with other plants for the water; pot the trees on when they have outgrown their existing pots; and do some pruning when required. In addition, we look after the rest of the allotment that is not the tree nursery: a rose garden and a plot for fruit bushes. These require some seasonal pruning and a lot of weeding.
If you are interested in finding out more about the tree nursery, please contact us for an informal discussion at: epsomandewelltab@gmail.com