This is an ambitious project, and not one that we're undertaking lightly - but it might seem strange tthat we're doing it at all. Fownhope is small Herefordshire village set within an area of outstanding natural beauty. It nestles between the meandering River Wye to the west and the limestone hulk of the Woolhope Dome to the east. During the spring the wild cherry blossom covers the hill leading to the Iron Age hill fort of Cherry Hill. Whatever the time of year, Fownhope has some of the most idyllic scenery in the country. So why are we bothering about a few more trees? For two key reasons -HabitatIn many ways Fownhope might seem like a scene of rural idyll, with hills, trees and rolling fields surrounding the village on every side - but like any landscape this has been subject to change. An 1887 map of the area outlines an intricate patchwork of trees and orchards but changing farming methods - and goverment initiatives - have meant that many of those trees and hedgerows have long disappeared and, with them, the habitat that they provided. Planting more trees will help to reverse this trend. Hereford Nature Trust is very supportive of our project and have given us advice on suitable trees to plant, as has our local tree warden.Climate ChangeWe are in real danger of runaway climate change, and trees are an important way of capturing carbon. Our plan to plant trees in Fownhope links to a global initiative to urge our governments worldwide to come to an agreement that will limit atmospheric CO2 levels to 350 parts per million - they currently stand at 383 and are still rising. There is an important meeting in Copenhagen in December when governments will discuss international controls on carbon emissions. If climate change is to be limited so that we avoid unstoppable changes that will lead to widespread droughts, sea level rises and famine we believe that we need to act together now. If you're wondering what a tonne of CO2 looks like, by the way, you could try clicking here.
The fruit & nut trees we are planting will also help boost local production of food and reduce food miles. In the global scale we realise this is only a small contribution but it is important that each individual and community does what they can. Apart from the beauty of trees it is also important to give all the help we can to our wildlife population, which is also under stress from climate change.