In recent years the Gratton Trust has taken great pride and pleasure in developing our green space with strategic tree planting. It is hoped the efforts made today will provide a healthy and sustainable place of recreation and education for young people for many decades to come.
As well as strategically planting trees around the perimeter of the Gratton, in 2022 the Trust invested in a boardwalk and nature trail meandering alongside the River Dever. At each end you will find an interpretation board telling you all about the local flora & fauna.
Detailed below is a timeline of our efforts, particular thanks to Richard Solomons who planned and organised all the planting from June 2020 onwards.
Wildflower Bank
In April 2018, Peter Jenner instigated the planting of a wildflower bank. Although the name would suggest otherwise, in the early years a bank of wildflowers does in fact require care and attention, which continues to this day. In the summer a rich array of varieties and colours can be seen.
February 2020
A small army of volunteer tree planters and sponsors, led by Judy Polak, descended onto the Gratton and planted a total of 36 trees. Individuals had the opportunity to sponsor and plant their own tree.
A circle of Hazel was planted between the zipwire and the river, which it is hoped in time will form a canopy.
Ten silver birches were planted to form an avenue near the allotments and a line of Cherry and Rowan were planted alongside the wild flower bank. All of these plants were donated by The Woodland Trust.
June 2020
A mixture of Dogwood, Crab Apple, Dog Rose and Hawthorn saplings were planted behind the pétanque court, also donated by the Woodland Trust.
October 2020
A series of trees were planted in various locations, mostly near the perimeter path. These include:
- A Sweet Gum Tree (Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Lane Roberts’)
- A Japanese Flowering Cherry (Prunus ‘Kanzan’)
- Three Blue Arrow Conifers (Juniperus scopulorum)
- A Red Maple (Acer x freemanii ‘Autumn Blaze’)
- A Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani)
- A European Mountain Ash (Sorbus aucuparia)
March 2021
This time with a focus along the southern edge of the perimeter path several French Lilac trees were planted. In addition to these, a Purple Beech was kindly donated by Sutton Scotney’s Egg Day Nursery, and planted at the pavilion end of the wild flower bank. Also a Cedar next to the pétanque court.
- Four French Lilac Trees (Syringa vulgaris ‘Belle de Nancy’)
- A Purple Beech Tree (Fagus sylvatica purpura)
April 2021
An Oak tree was kindly donated by Alistair Black which was planted at the allotment end of the the wild flower bank. Of special note is that Alistair’s grandson had planted this tree from an acorn in his grandfather’s garden.
May 2021
Just one planting in May; that of a Sweet Gum tree, again donated by Sutton Scotney’s Egg Day Nursery, and planted near the playground.
- A Sweet Gum Tree (Liquidambar styraciflua ‘Slender Silhoutte’)
July 2021
A couple of spruces were planted along the perimeter pathway near the river.
- Two Colorado Blue Spruces (Picea pungens ‘Edith’)
August 2021
A solitary cedar was planted next to the pétanque court.
- Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica ‘Sekkan-sugi’)
November 2021
A Eucalyptus was kindly donated by local resident Jill Powell and was planted in the middle of the wild flower bank.
- A Wolgan Snow Gum (Eucalyptus gregsoniana)
December 2021
In December we planted two Weeping Purple Crab Apple trees down by the waters edge, either side of the riverbank steps. Also a Cedar in the Surgey corner of the Gratton.
- Two Weeping Purple Crab Apple (Malus ‘Royal Beauty’)
- Japanese Cedar (Cryptomeria japonica ‘Elegans’)
January 2022
To mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022, the Gratton Trust got involved in the Queen’s Green Canopy by planting a triangle of three Silver Birches next to the playground.
- Three Himalayan Birch trees (Betula utilis jacquemontii)
February 2022
In memory of local resident, Anthony Stacey, a small Yew Tree was kindly donated by his partner and planted next to the Pavilion.
- A Taxus baccata (Yew)
March 2022
A Christmas Tree was kindly donated by local resident, Marcos Frangos, and planted at the Pavilion end of the wild flower bank. It is hoped in years to come lights may be strung around the tree during the festive season.
- A Nordmann Fir (Abies nordmanniana)
September 2022
Two trees near the pétanque court have sadly failed, and so in September they were replaced and fenced off to encourage growth.
- Golden Irish Yew (Taxus Baccata ‘Fastigiata Aure’
December 2022
The final project of 2022 was to plant eight fruit trees, to create a small community orchid in the north east corner of the Gratton, alongside our avenue of birch. Our thanks go to Sue Heath-Caldwell for the original idea, and to Tesco for the grant that made this project happen.
- 4 apple trees
- 2 plumb trees
- 2 pear trees
Also in December, the Trust replaced the Queen’s Green Canopy plaque with a far superior stainless steel one. The original one had eroded very badly and the text was almost illegible.
June 2023
Most unfortunately, by Spring in 2023, it became clear that the Wolgan Snow Gum tree kindly donated by Jill Powell in 2021 was not going to survive. So it was replaced with Silver Birch in the same location. Hopefully this tree will fare better.
November 2023
After 7 of the 8 fruit trees planted in December 2022 were killed by rabbits on their first night, the trust replanted them.
November 2024
Following an unfortunate accident with a runaway marquee in June 2024, one of our Pear Trees was damaged beyond recovery. In the following November, the best time to plant fruit trees, it was replaced.
