Last Saturday Tree Musketeers turned out in the cold to plant under the snow. Many people think you cannot plant when there is snow on the ground (some TMs included, or at least thats why they said they were n't there!) but provided the soil is not frozen trees are happier planted than standing around in cold pots. Seven brave volunteers planted 7 new trees on Hackney Downs. They are 3 Scot's pines, a native black poplar, a foxglove tree, a red buckeye and a giant redwood. All were supplied by Hackney Community Tree Nursery. Indeed savage Council spending cuts meant TMs not only supplied the trees and the labour to plant them, we were also forced to provide the stakes and guards (necessary to protect the trees from dogs and mowers). Since we will also be weeding and watering them we are part of a very one sided partnership. In fact Hackney Parks department will not buy a single tree this year with the only trees going into parks coming from lottery money or private sponsors.

TMs have planted over 300 trees in Hackney Parks in the last 10 years. We have also adopted another 300 that would otherwise have died for lack of water or care. Unfortunately rather than celebrated by park managers and councillors we are considered an irritation and threat to the established order.

We have another  planting day on Hackney Downs on 8 January. Why not join us and plant a tree for the future. Many of our trees were grown from seed (or cuttings) by Hackney residents.