EVEN Robin Waymouth is prepared to acknowledge that four million acorns will take a bit of collecting.
But the former grower – who earlier this year suggested that the Island could become a nursery for the export of saplings – has urged Islanders to collect acorns now and deliver them to a collection point that could hardly be more appropriate: Acorn Enterprises.
‘Four million acorns is a big ask, but wouldn’t it be fun to go into the COP27 conference next month as an Island doing our utmost to make our own contribution to help slow climate change,’ he said.
Mr Waymouth points to the UK’s plan to plant millions of native trees by 2050, an initiative that will require huge numbers of saplings to be grown. Looking at the changing face of the Island’s agriculture industry, he believes that fields here that might otherwise be uneconomic – and possibly, therefore, vulnerable to development – could instead be used for a new export: saplings that would help in the world’s struggle against climate change.
Between 6 and 18 November in the Egyptian city of Sharm El-Sheikh, global leaders will discuss what can be done to slow down the rise in temperature, which is increasingly causing chaos in countries across the world. By coincidence, it was during last year’s COP26 conference in Glasgow that Mr Waymouth began to develop the idea that Jersey could become a nursery for saplings that will flourish as mature trees elsewhere.
Since he floated the idea publicly in August, he has spoken to growers about the practicality of adapting automated planters to deliver germinating acorns, and he has begun talks with the Jersey Royal Company about the possibility of farmland being made available. He has his eye on land between Longueville and Grouville, what he calls ‘the golden mile’. He believes it could provide a new stimulus to the Island’s economy.
‘Jersey’s well-established and respected finance industry is well-placed to adapt its expertise into a potentially lucrative new field for the Island that would be of huge benefit to the economy, the environment and its reputation.
‘Carbon offset programmes and environmental self-governance managed by the finance industry could provide the funding necessary to support growers’ endeavour in raising the millions of young trees during the four years from planting to export,’ he explained.
According to the saying, mighty oaks from little acorns grow – you might expect that to have a particular resonance for Mr Waymouth. ‘I feel this is the time to say: “Come on, let’s all pull together”. Then, as an Island, we could all say that we were doing our bit and could be proud of something really tangible,’ he said.
