Celebrating National Tree Week with Sir William Worsley and Ted Green MBE

During this year’s National Tree Week, the Surrey Hills National Landscape celebrated their woodland habitat from the ancient to newly planted trees. With over 40% woodland cover, the Surrey Hills is one the most wooded of all our National Parks and National Landscapes.

On Wednesday 29 November, Sir William Worsley, Chairman of the Forestry Commission and Ted Green MBE, founder of the Ancient Tree Forum, visited Newlands Corner to hear about the conservation project to safeguard one of the most important yew woodlands in the world and to unveil the Yew Tree artwork.

All images by Luke Whatley-Bigg.

Ted Green MBE, founder of the Ancient Tree Forum and Sir William Worsley, Chairman of the Forestry Commission unveiling the Yew Tree artwork by Ruth Wheeler.

Guests in front of the Newlands Corner view. (Left to right) Lydia, Mark & Sharna, Surrey Choices, Andy Wright, Conservation & Access, Lisa Creaye-Griffin, Surrey Nature Partnership, Matthew Woodcock, Forestry Commission, Gordon Jackson, Surrey Hills Society, Gary Evans, Forest Bathing Institute, Michael Baxter, Albury Estate, Geoff Monk, Treecosystems, Sir William Worsley, Forestry Commission, Anna, Yasmin, Nikki & Jonathan, Surrey Coalition of Disabled People, Rob Fairbanks, Surrey Hills National Landscape, Councillor Paul Deach, Surrey County Council, Bridget Biddell, Hampton Estate & CLA, Sarah & Oliver, Surrey Hills National Landscape, Ted Green MBE, Ancient Tree Forum, Tom Hill, National Trust, Heather Ackroyd, Ackroyd & Harvey

Geoff Monk, founder of Treecosystems sharing some of the opportunities and threats to these ancient trees, and how his work with the help from Guildford Borough Council and Surrey Choices is creating a more sustainable future for these Yews, which are around 1,000 years old.

Gary Evans, founder of the Forest Bathing Institute explaining the research behind spending time under the canopy of ancient trees and our mental wellbeing.

National Tree Week encourages everyone to enjoy and connect with the woodland and trees around them. With use of the Surrey Hills Access for All fund, Newlands Corner is just one of the many sites across the Surrey Hills which has seen accessibility improvements, connecting people with nature.

Cllr Paul Deach, Deputy Cabinet Member to the Leader of the Council said.

“It was wonderful to welcome Ted Green and Sir William to Newlands Corner to help raise public awareness of the work to conserve our precious ancient yew trees. Also, Surrey County Council are delighted to be working with the Surrey Hills team and the Surrey Coalition of Disabled People to enhance the opportunity to access nature for the health and well-being of all our residents, making sure that ‘no one’s left behind’.”

Chairman of the Surrey Coalition of Disabled People, Jonathan Fisher, and Vice-Chair, Anna Satori, experiencing the improvements made at Newlands Corner since their Access Reviews earlier in the year.

During the evening, the Surrey Hills Symposium welcomed hundreds of people to the University of Surrey, this year themed ‘Woodland Wonder, with thanks to sponsorship from Ringway. The Symposium brought together woodland advisors, community groups and Surrey Hills Enterprises members into a marketplace for guests to enjoy.

Sir William Worsley, Chairman of the Forestry Commission, Tim Wates, High Sherrif of Surrey and Professor Richard Murphy, Director for the Centre for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Surrey with sponsors Ringway and Surrey Hills Enterprises member, Silent Pool Gin.

The evening then continued in the auditorium, discussing the topic of the future of our trees in a changing climate.

Kathy Atkinson, Chair of the Surrey Hills National Landscape Board said.

“Celebrating our 5^th Symposium hosted by the University of Surrey, this year highlighted how crucial our woodlands are as habitat for thousands of species, flood protection, air quality, cultural heritage, mental wellbeing and to securing our future in a changing climate. We are at a critical time for nature, and the recent rebranding of all AONBs to National Landscapes signifies the national importance of these areas in the fight for nature and in tackling climate change.” Read the full National Landscapes story here.

(Left to right) Kathy Atkinson, Chair of the Surrey Hills National Landscape Board, Sir William Worsley, Chairman of the Forestry Commission, Cora Pfarre, Head Forester at Maydencroft, Tom Hill, Tree and Woodland Advisor at the National Trust and Professor Richard Murphy, Director for the Centre for Environment and Sustainability at the University of Surrey

Guests were delighted to experience a short performance by Freewheelers Theatre Company, who premiered their first outdoor woodland themed piece at this year’s Surrey Hills Arts event ‘WonderDusk’. You can watch Freewheeler’s performance from 00:57:00 here and the WonderDusk video here.

Freewheelers Theatre Company performing a piece inspired by trees and woodland.

National Tree Week concluded with the Surrey Hills team coming together to help manage the chalk grassland in the Southwest of the National Landscape.

Gordon Jackson, Chairman of our Surrey Hills Society, said.

“We were delighted finish the week tree popping at the Hampton Estate to enable the chalk downland to thrive. The Surrey Hills team were joined by Surrey Hills Enterprises businesses, making space for nature for species such as the small blue butterfly. Surrey Hills Society are also out tree planting with fantastic volunteers this winter with support from the Surrey Hills Farming in Protected Landscapes fund.”

The Surrey Hills team with Surrey Hills Enterprises members including Shetland Pony Club and Surrey Hills and Rivers.

Watch our Woodland Wonder short films here and the recording of the Surrey Hills Symposium here. #MySurreyHills