About Us
Our Passion for Trees and Commitment to a Greener Future
The Witham Tree Group is a community of volunteers formed in 2012 by local residents who share a commitment to protecting and increasing the tree cover in Witham. Our goal is to enhance the quality of life for all residents and improve our local environment, both now and for future generations.
WHAT DO WE DO?
We plant trees and, just as importantly, we care for them to ensure they thrive. We are entirely voluntary. Local authorities and other bodies fund the purchase of trees and related costs, and members of the public can also sponsor trees (see below). We handle the planting, watering, and ongoing care.
Since our formation, we have planted hundreds of trees. As awareness of the importance of trees has grown among funding bodies, we have steadily increased the number planted each winter. Without our work, many of these trees simply would not exist.
However, we need more hands.
Our active volunteer numbers are small, and we cannot always meet the growing demand. With more hands, we can take on even more vital projects to benefit Witham. Join us today and help us plant, water, and care for more trees than ever before.
Most of our members are partly or wholly retired. We welcome people of all ages and backgrounds, especially younger members, to join us and help secure the future of Witham’s greenery. Your involvement can make a real difference!
Each year, we plant around 70 trees in autumn and winter, each 3–5 metres tall, for immediate visual impact. We then water these trees, as well as those from the previous two planting seasons, throughout the summer. After the watering season, we conduct maintenance checks on all our planted trees, including adjusting ties and stakes as needed.
The commitment is usually just a few hours on one day per week for most weeks of the year, and we work around members’ availability.
You do not need specialist knowledge, only enough strength to dig a large hole (our trees come with a root ball of 35–55 litres) or carry a watering can, along with enthusiasm and a sense of humour. Join us for enjoyable, social, and rewarding work! Everyone is welcome. To get involved or learn more, please visit our Contact Us page and reach out today. We would love to hear from you!
Interested in sponsoring a tree?
If you would like to remember a loved one or mark a special occasion, such as a birthday, a milestone anniversary, exam success, or a sporting achievement, you can sponsor a tree. For £200, we will select a suitable tree with you, plant it in an appropriate location, and take care of watering and maintenance. You and your family are welcome to attend the planting.
Since 2012, we have been dedicated to conserving and planting trees across Witham, enhancing the town’s beauty, promoting environmental well-being, and creating a more comfortable space for everyone. Join us in building a greener, more sustainable Witham for future generations.
Our Tree Planting Initiatives
Explore our commitment to enhancing urban landscapes with sustainable tree planting. We carefully
select the right trees for each location, fosteringa healthier environment for future generations.
Watering Season
The 2024 Watering Season Begins (Sort Of)
We water the trees we plant for their first two years and longer if they need it. We provide a watering tube when we plant each tree so that we can deliver water to the bottom of the root ball, since watering only at the surface may not get water to the important lower roots. We then pour one 2 gallon/10 litre watering canful down the tube and one over the surface to ensure water reaches the upper root system.
This summer we have 156 trees to water – a record number – and they are well spaced around the town. We have planned a route and no doubt, as in previous years, we will refine it from experience. We have been eager to get started so that we can see how effective the route is and how long we can expect to spend on our tour of Witham.