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New Colour Brochure for 2008  Tree Nurseries of Powys now was a brand new, colour brochure and directory of suppliers. These ca ... Read More ... Native Tree Seed Collection Workshops in Autumn ... Autumn, the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, is also the time of year for gardeners and g ... Read More ... |
Better survival rates. The genetic makeup of local provenance native trees and shrubs ensures that they are better adapted to local conditions found in Wales. Planting better adapted trees ensures better survival rates, avoiding the costs of replanting. Conserving local wildlife. Historically in Wales many planted native trees have been grown from seed collected from very different areas (either lowland UK, or worse from continental Europe). Trees grown from imported seed may differ significantly in important genetic characteristics, influencing the time they come into leaf, flower and fruit, upsetting the fine balance between native trees and the wildlife they support. Reducing climate change. Sourcing trees and seeds locally reduces transport costs and reduces pollution. Extra transport miles are incurred when nurseries outside Wales travel to collect welsh tree seed, then transporting it back to the nursery and once more transporting the tree seedlings back to Wales for planting. Safeguarding local employment. Supporting a local nursery business has a multiplier effect on the local economy, with employees spending their money on local goods and services.There are opportunities for nursery enterprises creating full time jobs, as well as for existing land-owners to diversify, developing part-time nursery jobs to supplement their income. Conserving local natural heritage. There is now widespread appreciation of the environmental and economic advantages of planting native trees, rather than, for example non-native conifers. Native trees and woodlands, particularly remnants of ancient woodland, are a crucial part of local landscapes, preserving a region’s historical character and enhancing its attractiveness for tourism. Social, recreational and health benefits. Benefits to social and personal health from observing or experiencing natural green spaces, including woodland, has been well documented. Increasingly, visitors appreciate woodland, not just as a general experience of trees and shrubs, but also according to a deeper understanding of the biodiversity any woodland supports. Such experiences can have more profound emotional and spiritual benefits for our mental well being.