A DARTMOOR-based charity is seeking to expand the involvement of local people volunteering to support its mission to restore native woodland on Dartmoor.

Through a programme of outreach activities, taster sessions and workshops, MoorTrees will engage with local community groups about our work across the South Hams and Torbay thanks to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund.

Activities will help local residents find out more about growing trees and what it takes to set up and run a Community Tree Nursery.

The sessions will also help people to learn new skills while gaining a better understanding of horticulture and how to create new woodlands.

Events will take place at the charity’s tree nursery in Dartington, just outside Totnes.

Members of the Moor Trees team will also be available to speak to groups across the area about its work.

The aim is to inspire more people to understand the process of tree growing and woodland creation better while also considering volunteering with the charity.

Holly Stewart, Nursery Assistant said: ‘On our weekly volunteering sessions at the nurseries we meet a diverse range of people.

‘We find that there are often quite differing motivations to come along and get involved.

‘For some it’s a chance to get out of the house and meet new people, for others they find spending time in nature really beneficial for their mental health.

‘There are many ways that spending time in a tree nursery can impact people’s lives and even help to inspire future careers.

‘There is always plenty to do in the nursery but also time and space to engage and talk with others while completing the various tasks.’

This project comes at a significant time for Moor Trees, as the charity embarks on its new three-year strategy which includes ensuring that its local provenance tree production is at full capacity in its two Community Tree Nurseries – resulting in 120,000 saplings growing at any one time and having up to 40,000 trees ready to be planted out each winter.

The charity works all year round, following the seasons, with seed gathering from late summer into the autumn, followed by a winter of tree planting.

In the spring volunteers in the nursery are busy planting on the germinating seeds, then over the summer group visits are hosted at woodland sites that Moor Trees has helped to create.

These woodlands range from two to 25 years old and volunteers check on their health and identify how the habitat is changing and developing increased biodiversity.

To find out more about how your group, beneficiaries and clients can get involved with Moor Trees, visit the charity’s website.