It’s a Long Read but Worth it – Project Timeline
2018
Ovington Parish Tree Consultancy
EPR Consultancy Hexham appointed. Agreed to focus on free standing trees, i.e. not copses or Whittle Dene — as to include every tree would be time and cost prohibitive.
2019
EPR Findings Delivered
EPR provide findings around parish tree identification, location, and ash tree health. Maps were provided showing the likely future of tree populations. Recommendations submitted to Ovington Parish Council (OPC). OPC invited all villagers to an extraordinary meeting about parish trees – over 50 attended and a pledge was made to form a tree project.
2020
Local Farmers Brought In
OPC Councillor contacted local farmers for ideas on where to plant trees. They gave suggestions for tree planting and information was shared at OPC meetings. OPC recognised that making progress would require a dedicated Project Manager (PM) to report back to OPC. Organising events, seeking funding, networking with landowners, would take significant time.
2020
New Parish Councillor Arrives
Parishioner keen to work on project invited onto OPC as a co-opted Councillor. Co-opted Councillor appointed as PM and core group of volunteers formed.
March 2021
First Batch of Trees Ordered
Trees ordered with support from OPC chair and expertise from Northumberland County Council (NCC) ecologist. These arrived in March 2021 and whilst respecting Covid-19 regulations, the first batch of trees is planted in nearer parts of Coal Lane and St Andrews Lane.
20 November 2021
Family Tree Planting and Creative Fun Event – Ovington Social Club
Organised by PM and Ovington Community Group (OCG). Refreshments provided for volunteers. Local farmer advised on tree planting locations. Plan hatched to continue tree planting all the way to Ovingham. Some trees sourced from NCC ‘free trees’ scheme for the Queen’s Green Canopy. NCC created an event video. Trees planted in field adjacent to road to Ovingham, more along Coal Lane and St Andrews Lane and in nearby fields with agreement of farmers.
Late 2021
Linear Native Tree Aboretum Concept born
Tree strategy created, including desire to involve local groups (OCG, Whittle Dene CIC, Ovingham Orchard) and schools. Shared with OPC and agreed.
Early 2022
Trees Sourced
Free trees offered by Woodland Trust and c100 tree seedlings from a private donor. Met with farmer on site to identify more tree planting areas.Trees planted in fields north of St Andrews Lane.
Early 2022
Ovingham Orchard Come on Board
Supportive of linear arboretum and keen to be involved with more tree planting in their land. Ovingham Orchard would also donate any surplus trees to Ovington Tree Project.
Early 2022
Woodland Trust Join the Gang
Meeting held with local farmer, Woodland Trust regional rep and OPC. Agreement pledged by Woodland Trust to supply a bulk order of trees for autumn 2022, plus additional support and expert guidance.
Early 2022
Go Local Ovington Pledge to Help
Go Local, based within Ovington, express their keenness to support the tree project by sharing info about events and general publicity.
Early 2022
Tyne Rivers Trust Add Their Expertise
Joined a walk along the Tyne from Ferry Landing to the Schools. Identified potential to plant native willows, willow ‘pegs’ to help prevent riverbank erosion, plus need for hedge between arable land and footpath. Agreed donation to be given to Tyne Rivers Trust who will then provide resourse to plant along riverside. OPC to source volunteers and to ensure landowner agreement.
Early 2022
Playtime for Local Schools
Ovingham First School and Ovingham Middle School both agreed to support linear arboretum development. Working along the Tyne and inputting to the interpretation boards.
Early 2022
Whittle Dene CIC Add to the Party
Whittle Dene CIC have ambitious plans to acquire land to maintain ancient meadows, plant new trees, create nature trails, provide woodland skills courses and develop the ruined mill into an area suitable to visit. CIC keen to link to the proposed linear arboretum and will help to work with schools.
Early 2022
Negotiation With Other Parish Councils to Create Wildlife Corridoors Between Parishes
Met Tree Wardens from Ovingham, Ponteland, Wylam and Horsley to promote Ovington Tree Project and suggest future aim of wildlife corridors.
Early 2022
Further Landowner Engagement
Identified landowners and farming contractors responsible for land identified for tree planting. Joint site visits led to agreement on planting areas. Agreed access and planting dates.
May/June 2022
Tree Maintenance Event and CPRE Engagement Activity
Volunteers cut back overgrowth around trees planted along St Andrews Lane and Coal Lane.
Organised a guided walk with CPRE members to showcase plans for a linear native tree arboretum and reveal planting to date.
Mid 2022
Fundraising Efforts
Bids submitted to gain funds for tree protection. Successfully secured funds from private donors, NCC and Thornton Family Trust
Autumn/Winter 2022
Submission of Order for More Trees
Order placed with Woodland Trust for c4200 trees for new hedgerows and small copses. Woodland Trust negotiated with Northern Forest to gain funds to assist. Outcome – Woodland Trust & Northern Forest will fund and order trees on a phased planting basis from Autumn 2022 to Winter 2023. Tree project to fund the purchase of tree protection and any event/promotional costs.
Late 2022
Events Galore !
September 2022 – Tree project stall at village fete selling plants to raise funds.
15 October 2022 – PM organised a Tree Treasure Hunt for families (including planting trees), OCG provided refreshments and childrens activities in Ovington Social Club.
15 October 2022 – CPRE members joined villagers to maintain planted trees and in land clearance efforts in preparation of new hedge planting
November 2022 – Tyne Rivers Trust supervise willow coppice planting, willow pegs and new hedgerow planted next to the Tyne. 25 volunteers helped.
November 2022 – Ovingham First School planted trees in their school field. Middle School planted 42 Goat Willow to form a copse at the bottom of their field near to the River Tyne.
December 2022 – Planted new hedgerow at Overdene in two paddocks – livestock-friendly species.
Early 2023
Strategic Planting Plans With other Parishes
Discussions initiated with Wylam, Ponteland, Humshaugh and Morpeth Parishes – either to connect with Ovington Parish or to learn from how Ovington has made progress.
Mid – Late 2023
The Events Keep Coming
11th February 2023 – Tree planting event along River Tyne with supervision by Tyne Rivers Trust. 15 volunteers planted trees.
12th February 2023 – 53 free standing trees planted alongside Drovers path up to Overdene. These will be feature trees illustrating the variety of trees able to grow in Northumberland.
Mid-2023 – PM gave assembly talks in each school about Ovington Tree Project and how the pupils can get involved. Middle school Eco Project team support with tree planting and event write up.
21 September 2023 – Public meeting to request assistance with mapping of walking routes and trees. Volunteers came forward from Prudhoe Pathforce and villagers in Ovington.
3rd and 10th December 2023 – New hedgerow planting between Ovingham and Whittle Dene. Volunteers from Ovington and Ovingham assisted.
10th December 2023 – Short hedgerow planted in west end of Ovington.
Late 2023
Progress on Interpretation boards
Tendered for three different providers. At OPC meeting, it was decided to select Differentia as preferred supplier.
Bids submitted for funding. Funds successfully secured from NCC Climate and Environment Fund plus a pledge from North of Tyne Community Fund (with a caveat to match fund via crowd funding).
Gained approval from landowners to place interpretation boards on their land. Submitted pre-application planning. Gained approval to progress to apply for full planning permission.
Early 2024
The Interpretation Boards Become a Reality
Several meetings and site visits conducted with Differentia designers to identify optimum placing of interpretation boards.
17 & 18 February 2024
More Planting Events
Completed new long hedgerow between Ovingham and Whittle Dene