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PAWARA Environment Group

Sunday 12th July 2026

9:30 am

Ladybridge Road car park

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Environment Group

by Terry Smith

We have been active during the tree planting season which starts with National Tree Week during the last week of November and finishes at the end of March.

In November we added to the trees we planted at Privett Road in 2012. The original trees have improved the site enormously with the cherry and silver birch doing particularly well, the rowan prodcuing large numbers of red berries and the hazel will soon need to be coppiced. The original pack included a Royal Oak grown from an acorn from one of the royal estates to mark the diamond jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. That tree is also healthy and will eventually dominate the site.

We planted around 40 trees, mainly small hazels with silver birch, rowan and a guelder rose to add variety and colour.

In January we had four sessions planting and mulching 250 whips (young trees around one metre tall) at Crookhorn Golf Course. We met on Thursday morning instead of the usual Sunday to avoid the busiest times for the golf club and reduce the possibility of being hit by golf balls while we were working. The whips were supplied by the Tree Officer for Portsmouth City Council and were a mixture of hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, beech and oak. They were planted approximately one metre apart and should soon form a copse to the side of the 14th fairway. We were joined by Havant Borough Tree Wardens and the Green & Healthy City Project Officer for Portsmouth City Council.

In March PAWARA (assisted by members of the 1st Purbrook Scout Group) planted ten fruit trees in a circle at the car park end of Ladybridge Road Park to create an orchard in commemoration of the coronation of King Charles III.

The Tree Council supplied two Golden Orchard packs as part of celebrations to mark fifty years of The Tree Council. All the trees have gold or golden in the name and most will produce golden fruit.

The trees are two each of Julia’s Late Golden and Paradise Gold apples; Golden Hornet crab apple; Oullins Golden gage and Golden Glow apricot. We will need to be patient because the trees will not produce fruit for the first two years although their blossom will make an attractive addition to the area.

A thick layer of wood chip was spread around the trees to help suppress weeds and keep moisture in the soil.

A wire cage was stapled to each stake to protect the young fruit trees.

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Frequently Asked Questions...

Can anyone join?

Anyone can join our practical sessions although, if you are under 16, please bring a parent or guardian with you.

All that’s needed is a willingness to get involved.  No previous experience is needed, but if you have skills that you think may be useful, feel free to let the task leader know.  Otherwise, any skills required will be taught by the leader or others in the group.

It’s best to come in clothing you don’t mind getting dirty.  Depending on the weather, the layered approach is usually appropriate with waterproofs as top layer if necessary.  Long sleeves are a good idea.  Footwear should be a robust pair of boots or wellingtons if you want to get involved in the more physical activities.  A hat is also useful along with sun tan lotion. There will often be the gentler activity of litter picking if you’d like something less physical.

We meet for practical tasks on the second Sunday of each month (third Sunday in November).  We sometimes have additional sessions in order to finish a task. 

We start at 9.30am and generally finish at 11.30am.  We sometimes leave later if we need to finish a task.

We have sufficient tools for the number of people who usually participate in work parties.  The task leader will inform you if you need to bring any tools.  We supply gloves, but please bring your own if you wish.  We will always bring a first aid kit.

You can just turn up to a task although it would be helpful if you could contact us beforehand.  Any groups of people intending to join a task should contact us first.  On your first visit we will ask you for contact information, discuss your capabilities, relevant health issues, medicines taken and any skills or experience you would like to share with us.  Note that it is important that you are up-to-date with tetanus jabs.

While this would be the most helpful, any time you can supply would be appreciated.  We understand that volunteers may have other commitments and it is not always possible to attend every task.

Yes, we are insured under the TCV Scheme for Conservation Groups (supplied by Zurich Insurance).

PAWARA Environment Group is part of Purbrook and Widley Area Residents’ Association (PAWARA) which has a constitution and a committee.  PAWARA holds both committee and public meetings. 

The Environment Group Co-ordinator puts together the work programme.  If you have ideas for tasks or projects, please let us know.