ISLANDERS are being encouraged to donate to a fund which will be used to replant trees across the Island following the devastation caused by Storm Ciarán.
The Jersey Tree Fund was launched this week, with a sweet gum being planted by the Lieutenant-Governor, Vice-Admiral Jerry Kyd, St Helier Constable Simon Crowcroft and representatives from the group Jersey Trees for Life, which is running the scheme.
Alex Morel, chief executive of the charity, said: “We need to get some funding together in order to replace all the trees that we lost, whether they’re single trees in prominent places, whether they’re hedgerows, or whether they’re part of woodlands, and that fund is not only to pay for the planting of the trees, but the ongoing maintenance.
“That’s why it’s really important that we ringfence this money so we know that we can carry out this work.”
Donors can choose to support a whip in a hedgerow for £20, a £150 standard tree or a tree in a prominent place for £1,000, and will receive a certificate with the location of their tree.
“We’ve got to make sure that we’ve got the right tree planted in the right place. Some of these trees that have come down, it’s because they were inappropriate trees planted not necessarily in the best location, so we need a whole plan going forward of how do we repopulate Jersey,” Mrs Morel said.
The sweet gum planted this week in Parade Gardens replaced a fallen beech tree that was planted in 2008 to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the end of the First World War.
There are plans for a new tree to be planted in a new location to commemorate the conflict.
Vice-Admiral Kyd, meanwhile, explained that the Crown was keen to plant trees, citing the late Queen’s Green Canopy Initiative.
“Hopefully, it will be the start of many thousands more trees we can plant as soon as we can and so we’re grateful for any support around the Island and from businesses to support the Jersey Tree Fund.”
He added: “As ever, when the Island decides to do something it does it really well.
“The sense of community here is so powerful.
“We will do all we can do to work together to do our little bit as well. I’m very hopeful, and today was just the start.”
Vice-Admiral Kyd saw the impact of the storm at his home, too.
“Government House, which is where I live up in St Saviour, was hit very badly.
“We’ve got some wonderful old trees there, but we lost 30 to 40 in Government House gardens, which we’re sadly just removing now.”
