welcome to the website for
Bleadon Trees
An Agroforestry business in the heart of Bleadon
Bleadon Trees is a whole system demonstrator model for innovation in applying circular regenerative techniques to tree production. Bringing trees with local providence to landowners and local authorities often free or at a very low cost. From our small farm in Bleadon we can supply the South West.
Bleadon Trees sells wholesale trees and bushes grown from local seeds. Our expert team take care of the trees until they are ready to make an impact in an area. Most of our hedging and Willow is at least 2 years old before it leaves the nursery.
We are a small but important nursery, originally set up to replace our own woodland area where many of our trees were Ash and would be unsustainable, we intend to produce around 1000 trees and 10,000 bushes a year. However, we have grown so rapidly without even opening yet that we have far succeeded even our stretch goals. Our trees will be grown in pots and in the ground and our hedging will be grown in our polytunnel.
Are you passionate about nature and eager to make a lasting impact on the environment? Join Bleadon Trees in our mission to grow and nurture trees for future generations!
Why Volunteer with Us?
Growing trees is a rewarding way to connect with nature and contribute to a greener future. By volunteering with Bleadon Trees, you'll be part of a dedicated team working to collect seeds, pot saplings, and plant trees. We collaborate with local agencies to provide volunteers with the tools and knowledge needed to grow their own trees. You might even see your trees sold through our wholesale arrangements!
What You'll Do:
As a volunteer, you'll engage in a variety of essential tasks, including:
- Fixing Fencing: Ensure our young trees are protected.
- Weeding: Help maintain healthy growth conditions.
- Organising the Polytunnel: Keep our growing spaces efficient and tidy.
- Creating New Rows for Tree Planting: Prepare new areas for seedlings, including fencing to safeguard them from being trampled or grazed.
Location: Bleadon Trees BS24 0QF, Bleadon, Weston-super-Mare
How to Get Involved:
Contact Kirsten Hemingway at 07710 098804 or email info@bleadontrees.co.uk to learn more and sign up.
Join us today and grow with Bleadon Trees!
Growing trees is a wonderful way to connect with nature and to be part of the future. Bleadon Trees will run a volunteer programme with local agencies to support people to collect seeds and grow their own trees. Our volunteers will support us in our tree potting and planting and we help them with the equipment and knowledge they need to grow their own trees. We may even sell their trees through our wholesale arrangements. .
To realise this, we need to replace our wooden stables with a state of the art barn that can be used for the horses and sheep but is also able to be used for storing, potting and preparing trees and bushes. This way our volunteers can be protected from the weather when the potting time comes. Our team are committed to sourcing a kitchen area to be able to provide food for volunteers and a wet area to wash down equipment and pots for plant hygiene.
We will also need a commercial polytunnel for the seeds as they are potted into trays for growing. Small trees will be in pots in the polytunnel before they are planted out in the main nursery area.
We intend to sell wholesale and will not have the public at the nursery, this means we do not intend to have large areas for parking and that the current access will be fine. We will purchase a van (probably a horse box) that will transport the trees to our customers.
Growing Quality Local Trees
Using crowd sourced and collected local seeds and forest material, registered with the Forestry Commission. Brought to our state of the art, innovative seed barn in Bleadon. Where our specialist workers and volunteers will germinate them and grow them in to strong seedlings for planting.
Volunteer with Purpose
Growing trees and supporting their growth by gathering seeds and bringing them to Bleadon Trees. Or come to the nursery and help to prepare them for germination. Supporting them as they make their way through the different stages of the nursery and out in to the world.
Circular Regeneration
By connecting unused resources and helping to educate the community, Bleadon Trees will create a sustainable supply of trees with local provenance. Creating a mutually beneficial situation for landowners, volunteer groups and other local organisations. Landowners and volunteer groups that participate receive 10% of the collection back for free.
Connecting, Education and Engaging
Using our on site studio, we run Tree Radio. We can bring together organisations and individuals to broadcast good practice, connect resources, deliver learning, entertain and engage our community.
Our History
The Hemingway-Arnolds have owned and used their land and woods since 2003. The three main partners were 4, 2 and 6 months old when they first set foot on the land and started to play in the woods. They grew up in the field and woodland and originally used the nursery area for learning to ride.
As the horses and the children grew the area was too small for riding in and was going to ruin. In 2020, they noticed that the woods were mainly Ash (Fraxinus excelsior) and their scientific advisor (The Botanist) explained that the trees were not resistant to Ash Die Back disease. To look after the wildlife in the wood and continue to provide the habitat they had to grow or buys some trees.
The intrepid trio, and their mother, set about collecting seeds from the trees in the wood and from other local trees areas and in no time, they had collected over 3000 seeds. At this point they decided that they would use the old practice area and grow as many of the seeds as they could and sell what they did not need.
Local Farmer, Howard Tratt rabbit proofed the nursery, and a digger was hired to get the ground ready and the first trees, Salix alba and Salix babylonica were planted in October 2020.
Our Trees
We will grow:
| Latin | English | Number | Forestry Commission Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salix alba | White Willow | 30 | 10/09/2020 |
| Salix babylonica | Weeping Willow | 10 | 1/10/2020 |
| Salix caprea | Goat Willow | 10 | 1/10/2020 |
| Acer campenestre | Field Maple | 200 | 1/10/2020 |
| Quercus robur | English Oak | 300 | 1/10/2020 |
| Fraxinus excelsior | Ash | 100 | 10/09/2020 |
| Ulmus glabra | Wych Elm | 20 | 1/10/2020 |
| Quercus x hispanica 'Fulhamensis' | Fulham Oak | 5 | Not registered |
| Corylus avellana | Hazel | 200 | 1/10/2020 |
Our Bushes
We will grow:
| Latin | English | Number | Forestry Commission Registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crategus monogyna | Hawthorn | 10,000 | 1/10/2020 |
| Viburnum lantana | Wayfering Tree | 100 | 1/10/2020 |