Treesponsibility - Climate change of a different kind

Aerial map of the Upper Calder Valley, with Treesponsibility planting sites highlighted

Location: Calderdale, West Yorkshire

Collaborators: other members of Treesponsibility

Clients: the Upper Calder Valley; local community; local landowners

Lifetime of the project: 1997- 2023

Time of my involvement: 2000 - 2006

Themes: Land restoration; woodland and forestry; community governance

This was about as Rock'n'Roll as tree planting can get! The strapline "climate change of a different kind" hints at the idea that Trees' are trying to create a new culture of appreciating trees and woodland in an area that in recent history was among the most deforested in Britain with as low as 1% in 1900. The threat of climate change with its local effect of increased flash flooding was seen as the starting point for a three-pronged strategy: education about the causes of climate change; reforestation to address both causes and effects; direct action and campaign work targeting climate criminals.

In its 25 years of existence, Treesponsibiity planted nearly 700,000 trees across the Uper Calder Vallyey. Te project was pioneering and in some ways two decades ahead of its time. Having fulfilled its mission to change the culture of the valley to one where trees were an integral and appreciated part of it, Treesponsibility disbanded in spring 2023. At the final planting, the future care of the trees was already taken on by the successor group ForusTree, a community business. Some of the ForusTree members are children of the Treesponsibility pioneers, others have come in recently or have moved over from the original group.

Community interaction - Trees' are an active player in the Calder Valley's culture. This has been recognised by several grants and awards over the years. This graphic shows some of the interactions with other actors in the area. It can be read as the social equivalent of a Sector diagram.

Income sources - Diversity is key for a sustainable income strategy. Trees' have a pretty good approach to it, picking their eggs from up to 5 baskets. Another Sector Diagram.

Working structure and outreach - this descriptive graphic uses the "spheres of agency" model, a version of social "zoning". I first came across this model during the CRASH course in London in 2009, and have found it useful in many situations where interaction with the public is relevant. Other files that are available on request detail the process of maing decisions about choosing planting sites, and the annual cycle of activities.