SRA Annual Report 2022-23: Trees for Water Action Fund
Trees for Water is an SRA-backed Fund for tree and hedge planting that helps people across Somerset to reduce local flood risks arising from surface water run-off. It’s designed to suit small sites where local knowledge and expert analysis suggest that planting will make a difference.
Planting is usually carried out by landowners and enthusiastic volunteers. Momentum built up over the last three years has encouraged more landowners to come forward, and shaped people involved into experienced and effective teams. The project is led by Reimagining the Levels, working with the Farming & Wildlife Advisory Group SouthWest (FWAG SW).
During 2022-23, 31 places were planted with a total of 2791 trees, 3327 shrubs, 1987 metres of hedgerow and 69 hedgerow trees.
To guard against chomping by livestock and wildlife, 2398 metres of fencing was also provided.
Public sites
Public sites to benefit were:
- Keinton Mandeville playing field
- the Diamond Jubilee Wood just outside Barton St David
- Linden Meadow at Westford, owned by Wellington Town Council (the proposal came through Transition Town Wellington)
Charities
Charities included:
- the Pitcombe Rock Falconry Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre, close to Cole near Bruton
- the Geranium Trust’s Court House at Stoford near Yeovil, an able2achieve venue for people with disabilities
- Paddington Farm at the foot of Glastonbury Tor
At Paddington Farm one acre was planted on land which slopes down to the splendidly-named Splotts Moor which drains to the Brue. 175 trees and 175 shrubs extended existing woodland and a wild fruit orchard intended to provide forage for birds and wildlife.
Farms
Farms included Parsonage Farm (the home of Parson’s Choice Cider) on the A361 near West Lyng. Here 60 trees and 60 shrubs were planted in a field which gets very wet, and which is also near to an agricultural contracting business where lots of vehicles get washed off. The aim is to help stop water from draining down to Bankland, then Northmoor Main Drain, then the River Parrett at Moorland.
At Jerrards Farm in Brewham, 55 trees and 65 shrubs were planted in a buffer strip along three fields bordering the Brue, along with fencing to keep cattle out of the river paid for by the Environment Agency’s Brue Headwaters Multi-Benefit Project.
Other places
Various owners took part in other places. These places were:
In Mendip
- Chesterblade north-east of Evercreech, Banks Farm
- Haybridge near Wells, Henley Hill Farm
- Pilton, Whyte Gables and also Peacefields at Totterdown Farm
- Spargrove near Batcombe, Carrot Hill Farm
- Upton Noble, Beech Tree Stud and Farm
- Walton Hill, The Windmill
In Sedgemoor
- Farringdon near North Petherton, Rowsell’s Barn
- Shipham, Kenmeade
- Stoughton Cross near Wedmore, Stoughton Cross House
- Warrington Batch between West Stoughton and Ashton
- West Stoughton near Wedmore, Crossways Cottage
In Somerset West and Taunton
- Helland near North Curry, Nythe Farm
- West Bagborough, Tilbury Farm
In South Somerset
- Chilthorne Knap near Chilthorne Domer
- Compton Dundon, Fawn Meadow
- Draycott, Draycott Farm
- Higher Easthams Farm east of Crewkerne
- Huish Barn near Somerton
- Knole near Long Sutton, Orchard Farm
- Newtown near Kingsbury Episcopi, Horsey View Farm
- Pitney, Glebe Farm (Top Field)
- Up Mudford near Yeovil, Green Acres
- Wick west of Langport, Wick Dairy Farm
A few more details are provided above than were made available, for reasons of space, in printed versions of the SRA Annual Report 2022-23.