Trees and Bees Report. March 2024
We have had another enjoyable year.
Again we have promoted watering of verge trees and encouraged councils to leave unmown areas.
In May we presented our petition asking Hampshire County Council to stop using glyphosates on their land to Cllr Burgess in Lee on the Solent.
In June several members of the group were fortunate enough to have a guided tour of the Wild Grounds in Gosport led by Fred Gibson, Countryside Officer.
The wildflower area by the BT building in Foster Road which we had created in Spring 2021 had become rather overgrown so in September several members of the group were joined by members of Community Spirit to strim the area and sow Yellow Rattle seeds. Next month we aim to add lots of plants and re seed the area. If anyone would like to help or join the watering rota please get in touch.
Again we participated in National Tree Week. Around 200 whips were planted to form hedgerows at three Gosport schools. The final planting of the season was in early January at the children’s area of Ann’s Hill Cemetery, Gosport with kind permission of Dave Stubington from Gosport Borough Council. We are very grateful to Community Spirit for help with these plantings and to the Woodland Trust and Tree Conservation Volunteers for providing the whips. Special thanks go to Emma for organizing these plantings.
Mick Gore from Fareham Borough Council kindly agreed that we could create a bog garden in a very wet area of the Leisure Centre Park to help alleviate flooding. Emma designed a plan and in January we assisted a team from the council to plant the garden. We would welcome any volunteers to help maintain this area.
We continue to support the Willow Incredible Garden at Forton Medical Centre and several Gosport schools.
I am very grateful to all members of the group for attending the meetings and for their practical help.
For more information on these projects please visit our website or contact us.
Rosey Coddington
Again we have promoted watering of verge trees and encouraged councils to leave unmown areas.
In May we presented our petition asking Hampshire County Council to stop using glyphosates on their land to Cllr Burgess in Lee on the Solent.
In June several members of the group were fortunate enough to have a guided tour of the Wild Grounds in Gosport led by Fred Gibson, Countryside Officer.
The wildflower area by the BT building in Foster Road which we had created in Spring 2021 had become rather overgrown so in September several members of the group were joined by members of Community Spirit to strim the area and sow Yellow Rattle seeds. Next month we aim to add lots of plants and re seed the area. If anyone would like to help or join the watering rota please get in touch.
Again we participated in National Tree Week. Around 200 whips were planted to form hedgerows at three Gosport schools. The final planting of the season was in early January at the children’s area of Ann’s Hill Cemetery, Gosport with kind permission of Dave Stubington from Gosport Borough Council. We are very grateful to Community Spirit for help with these plantings and to the Woodland Trust and Tree Conservation Volunteers for providing the whips. Special thanks go to Emma for organizing these plantings.
Mick Gore from Fareham Borough Council kindly agreed that we could create a bog garden in a very wet area of the Leisure Centre Park to help alleviate flooding. Emma designed a plan and in January we assisted a team from the council to plant the garden. We would welcome any volunteers to help maintain this area.
We continue to support the Willow Incredible Garden at Forton Medical Centre and several Gosport schools.
I am very grateful to all members of the group for attending the meetings and for their practical help.
For more information on these projects please visit our website or contact us.
Rosey Coddington
Tree planting in the Community
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1. In March Emma and Trev from the Trees and Bees group were joined at Brune Park Health Centre by a couple of volunteers and Emma Kemp from Love Outdoors to plant a hedgerow and 3 fruit trees donated by the group.
This is the start of a community garden which will be a smaller scale version of the very successful one developed by Emma Kemp at Forton Road 2. The children at Motiv8 are keen on gardening which we always like to encourage. They have limited space but in early April we supplied them with 3 large pots and 3 dwarf fruit trees for their patio. Hopefully they will be able to cook with the fruit in years to come Rosey Coddington |
Brune Park Medical Centre
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Motiv8
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GFFOE Bog Garden in Leisure Centre Park, Fareham. March 2024
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Mick Gore from Fareham Borough Council kindly agreed for us to have a patch of land in the lower part of the mini arboretum in the Leisure Centre Park to create a bog garden
This area is very water logged and hopefully the garden will help to mitigate flooding. Emma designed a plan and Mick sourced the plants. After a very wet spell in January, a few of us, along with council workers, braved the mud to plant up the garden. If anyone is interested in helping to maintain the garden please get in touch. We are a very friendly group and are always pleased to see new faces! 
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January 2024The Trees and Bees group has just completed their tree planting programme for the winter season. Thanks must go to Emma who sourced the whips from The Conservation Volunteers and the Woodland Trust, as well as organizing the events. She was ably assisted by Trev who provided transport as well as helping with planting. Other GFFOE members, members of Gosport Community Spirit and schoolchildren also took part and they all seemed to enjoy themselves.
The first two hedgerows were planted in Tree Planting Week. 100 whips at Leesland School and 50 at Elson School. Children from the latter must be commended for turning out on a freezing day. The school provided a lovely picnic. In December a hedgerow was planted at Bay House School (100 whips) The final planting was in early January at the children’s area of Ann’s Hill Cemetery, Gosport. This comprised around 60 whips of flowering and fruiting native trees with 3 larger saplings. It is hoped that when these blossom they may give some comfort to the parents who visit as well as providing privacy when they grow taller. Rosey Coddington 
Elson Junior School. Freezing picnic after tree planting
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Ann’s Hill Cemetery
Ann’s Hill Cemetery
Students tree planting at Bay House School
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October 2023
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A few of us from the Trees and Bees group were joined by volunteers from Gosport Community Spirit to undertake some maintenance of the Foster Road wildflower patch. The grass was cut back with a scythe and strimmers, the brambles were trimmed and a few plants added. Later yellow rattle was sown to hopefully suppress the regrowth of grass. More plants will be added in the Spring and seeds sown. Please get in touch if you would like to help with this ongoing project. Rosey Coddington |
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Tour of the Wild Grounds, Gosport
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In mid June several of the Trees and Bees group were fortunate enough to have a guided tour of the Wild Grounds in Gosport led by Fred Gibson, Countryside Officer.
Most of us had not visited before and were amazed to find this enchanting space so close to the centre of the town. It was a very hot day but we were well shaded by the ancient oaks many of which had grown into amazing shapes. The floor was covered in bracken and a vibrant green plant which Fred identified as climbing corydalis. He explained that this was a marker of ancient woodland. One member of the group was fascinated by a shed skin of a dragonfly nymph which Fred spotted in one of the ponds. Apparently in some circumstances the nymph phase can last up to four years. Another member took great interest in herb robert ( see photo) . This plant has many uses including as an insect repellent. We were also fortunate enough to spot a roe deer. The tour was very special because of all the expert knowledge that Fred was happy to share but I would still recommend it as a very special place to visit without the necessity for a guide For more details please click here Rosemary Coddington |
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Wicor School Eco Fair
We were pleased to be invited to run a stall at the Wicor School Eco Fair on 20th May.
We had several activities for children. Making of the starter pots and planting them with a sunflower seed proved very popular. They are very easy to make and as well as teaching children about recycling the toilet roll tubes, they disintegrate when placed in the soil to avoid the need for potting on
We had several activities for children. Making of the starter pots and planting them with a sunflower seed proved very popular. They are very easy to make and as well as teaching children about recycling the toilet roll tubes, they disintegrate when placed in the soil to avoid the need for potting on
Petition to stop using glyphosates
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Our petition asking Hampshire County Council to stop using glyphosates on their land was presented to Cllr Burgess in Lee on the Solent on 15th May. We had collected over 1,600 signatures from Hampshire residents. He then submitted it to HCC.
I am very grateful to Elaine ( pictured left ) who organised this and to the many others who helped with the petition For more details please see Press Release section |
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The Alverstoke Christmas Tree Festival 2022
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GFFOE decorated a tree for St Mary’s Parish Church Christmas Tree Festival in 2022.
About 70 local organisations dressed a tree and the Church was open to visitors (4-5,000) from 8-11th December raising money for the church and publicity for the organisations. We decided to use decorations made from recycled materials interspersed with paper ‘baubles’ carrying GFFOE’s message of “Reduce; Reuse; Recycle”. A small team held a ‘makery’ at which, for example, old Christmas cards, packaging and medical blister packs became lanterns, old bottle tops hanging trinkets, Fairtrade coffee packets and similar packaging were transformed into delicate silver chains, bells and angels. We also had a collection of painted pine cones which added a touch of nature. We hope people who saw our tree were inspired to make their own decorations in future. Because this was a team effort and each member had specific roles, no-one had to do too much - important at such a busy time of year. SH. 15-2-23 |
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Trees and Bees AGM Report March 2023
The Trees and Bees Group has had another productive year.
Again we attached “ Please Water Me “ labels to trees which had been planted in verges by Hampshire County Council. This year we used wooden labels. We also promoted watering on Facebook posts and by encouraging HCC to spread the word.
Last Spring several members worked with Fareham Borough Council to seed a wildflower meadow in Fareham Cemetery and we have been given the chance to help extend this this April. We are grateful to Mick Gore from FBC for this opportunity.
Unfortunately many of the whips we planted in Winter 2021 did not survive due to the exceptionally dry conditions. The Kings Road area had become quite overgrown and we added a few blue hearts, denoting an area left to grow wild, to discourage strimming by the council.
In Great Big Green Week in September we joined a picnic by this hedgerow, as part of a Gosport Green Trail, to celebrate action to improve the local environment and address climate change. We also contributed a poster about our work to the GBGW exhibition in Gosport Discovery Centre.
In National Tree Week Emma organized planting of around 220 whips in hedgerows in schools and also to replace those lost at Kings Road. She had grown many of these whips from seed and had obtained the rest free from Tree Conservation Volunteers.
We are grateful to Mark Trigwell from FBC for the chance to plant around 45 trees in Abbey Meadows to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
We much appreciated the help we received from Community Spirit with these plantings.
We have also enjoyed being involved with the Willow Incredible Garden at Forton Medical Centre and engaging with the community at our stalls particularly at Leesland School Countryside Fair.
We had a ‘ Makery ‘ to produce decorations with the theme of ‘ Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ for the Christmas Tree Festival at St Mary’s Church
We are circulating a petition asking HCC to ban the use of Glyphosates on their land
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/call-on-hampshire-county-council-to-stop
-using-glyphosates?source=direct_link&
We have recently accepted an invitation to design, plant and maintain a bog garden in Fareham Leisure Centre Park under the guidance of Mick Gore. This should help to mitigate flooding in this area as well as providing an attractive focal point in the arboretum.
Everyone in the group has contributed in some way and I am very grateful We are always pleased to welcome new members so please get in touch if any of these projects interest you.
Again we attached “ Please Water Me “ labels to trees which had been planted in verges by Hampshire County Council. This year we used wooden labels. We also promoted watering on Facebook posts and by encouraging HCC to spread the word.
Last Spring several members worked with Fareham Borough Council to seed a wildflower meadow in Fareham Cemetery and we have been given the chance to help extend this this April. We are grateful to Mick Gore from FBC for this opportunity.
Unfortunately many of the whips we planted in Winter 2021 did not survive due to the exceptionally dry conditions. The Kings Road area had become quite overgrown and we added a few blue hearts, denoting an area left to grow wild, to discourage strimming by the council.
In Great Big Green Week in September we joined a picnic by this hedgerow, as part of a Gosport Green Trail, to celebrate action to improve the local environment and address climate change. We also contributed a poster about our work to the GBGW exhibition in Gosport Discovery Centre.
In National Tree Week Emma organized planting of around 220 whips in hedgerows in schools and also to replace those lost at Kings Road. She had grown many of these whips from seed and had obtained the rest free from Tree Conservation Volunteers.
We are grateful to Mark Trigwell from FBC for the chance to plant around 45 trees in Abbey Meadows to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
We much appreciated the help we received from Community Spirit with these plantings.
We have also enjoyed being involved with the Willow Incredible Garden at Forton Medical Centre and engaging with the community at our stalls particularly at Leesland School Countryside Fair.
We had a ‘ Makery ‘ to produce decorations with the theme of ‘ Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ for the Christmas Tree Festival at St Mary’s Church
We are circulating a petition asking HCC to ban the use of Glyphosates on their land
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/call-on-hampshire-county-council-to-stop
-using-glyphosates?source=direct_link&
We have recently accepted an invitation to design, plant and maintain a bog garden in Fareham Leisure Centre Park under the guidance of Mick Gore. This should help to mitigate flooding in this area as well as providing an attractive focal point in the arboretum.
Everyone in the group has contributed in some way and I am very grateful We are always pleased to welcome new members so please get in touch if any of these projects interest you.
May 2022 - Campaign to stop using peat in our gardens
Watering young trees during dry spells
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This is one of the labels that Gosport and Fareham Friends of the Earth have been putting on some newly-planted trees in our area to encourage people to keep them watered.
The labels are sustainably produced, in wood, and were made by John at Fareham Men's Shed. They look really good, and will send out a positive message in an attractive format. Hampshire County Council have planted a huge number of trees in the last couple of years and they will enhance our local environment for residents, as well as being a valuable wildlife resource. If you have new trees planted near you, could you water them in dry spells, two buckets a week? (Washing-up, shower or bath water is fine.) |
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Blue Hearts in Gardens and Verges
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The blue heart campaign aims to rewild Britain garden by garden and council by council. In emoji speak, a means a non-romantic friendship or loyalty, trust and peace - which is perfect for our love and friendship for nature and biodiversity.
Like a lot of our initiatives it's been many people working together: one to make the hearts, another to paint and add stakes, multiple members to run the stalls and posts on Facebook so that we could give the hearts away; several members to plant the Kings Road hedge and two of us to decorate the blue hearts to explain to the public what the hedge was for. We'd worried that the small trees would be somewhat hidden in the long grass and we didn't want them to be mown down by mistake. We needn't have worried, Gosport Council had already adjusted their mowing program to protect the hedge and our group will back November-January to fill in the gaps where some of the trees didn't survive 
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Feeding the bees in Fareham Cemetery
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Back in May we helped Fareham Borough Council to sow wild flower seeds at the Wickham Road Cemetery. We were concerned that the lack of water might mean our efforts were in vain. However, as you can see a visit today showed that the flowers are blooming and the bees are buzzing !
Can you spot the bees in the photos? 
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Would you like a tree planted near your home
Does the road you live in have a grass verge?
Would you like a tree or trees to grow there? Hampshire County Council Highways department is inviting you to request that they plant one for you, free of charge!
Yes, it’s now possible to ask for a tree, or trees to be planted along your street. Trees will add beauty, help clean the air and keep your environment cool during the hotter summers we are now experiencing. They provide havens for birds and insects, and capture carbon.
To ask for a tree to be planted, visit
https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/roadmaintenance/roadproblems/tree-planting and see what’s on offer. Then click on the green button at the bottom of the page and make your request – you can also express a preference for the type of tree to be planted.
The Highways Department has been enhancing the tree cover along several streets in recent years and is keen to plant more. Not every site will be suitable, but your chance of success is going to be much greater if you make a request using the procedure above.
No grass verge?
We appreciate that not everyone is lucky enough to have a grass verge but if you have nearby areas of public land it may be worth approaching your local borough council and asking if they have a similar scheme.
Care for your tree
If a tree is planted near you, bear in mind that its chances of surviving and thriving will be much higher if you water it during dry spells especially between May to September. Please give it two buckets a week, – washing up water or bath water will do nicely.
Author Sarah Hirom ( adapted from an article by Andy Moffat)
Would you like a tree or trees to grow there? Hampshire County Council Highways department is inviting you to request that they plant one for you, free of charge!
Yes, it’s now possible to ask for a tree, or trees to be planted along your street. Trees will add beauty, help clean the air and keep your environment cool during the hotter summers we are now experiencing. They provide havens for birds and insects, and capture carbon.
To ask for a tree to be planted, visit
https://www.hants.gov.uk/transport/roadmaintenance/roadproblems/tree-planting and see what’s on offer. Then click on the green button at the bottom of the page and make your request – you can also express a preference for the type of tree to be planted.
The Highways Department has been enhancing the tree cover along several streets in recent years and is keen to plant more. Not every site will be suitable, but your chance of success is going to be much greater if you make a request using the procedure above.
No grass verge?
We appreciate that not everyone is lucky enough to have a grass verge but if you have nearby areas of public land it may be worth approaching your local borough council and asking if they have a similar scheme.
Care for your tree
If a tree is planted near you, bear in mind that its chances of surviving and thriving will be much higher if you water it during dry spells especially between May to September. Please give it two buckets a week, – washing up water or bath water will do nicely.
Author Sarah Hirom ( adapted from an article by Andy Moffat)
Embrace ‘weeds’. They are beautiful and essential for biodiversity
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Sign up to Plantlife’s # No Mow May
https://plantlife.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=6387c261b542b56fc9cdf7726&id=268c8b762a&e=46a976bde2 Watch a video about a weed garden that wins a gold award https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-manchester-57961460 |
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Places for Trees
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All political parties have highlighted the need to plant more trees, but where are all these trees going to go? We especially hope to see more urban trees as their shade will help to cool our towns as the climate gets warmer, plus they provide a habitat for wildlife and more greenery which has a positive impact on our mental health.
In 2020 GFFOE launched “Places for Trees”, a community survey to identify where additional trees could be planted on land owned by Fareham and Gosport Borough Councils and Hampshire County Council (HCC). Volunteers were trained in the use of an App developed by Forest Research. They downloaded the APP to their smart phones so they could log any suitable places. The data was then uploaded to a database which councils could access when deciding where to plant more trees. This data showed as green squares on a map of the area. Most street trees are planted by HCC and they gave feedback by changing the colour of the squares once they had used the data. It was very encouraging to watch our green squares changing to blue when tree planting was endorsed. Over the following year over 20 volunteers identified over 500 places where trees could be planted. HCC have now set up a direct system so that the public can request trees to be planted, so please use this link and get a tree outside your home! http://bitly.ws/soTa If you do have young trees planted near you then please give them some water, two bucketfuls once a week in dry periods can make a difference. You can use waste water, for example water you have used for washing up. |
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