Already the days lengthen, the bulbs are nudging into view, and we sense the seasons moving on. Picture bright and warmth filled June days, trees still light green with new growth, and read on.
This June, Shoreham will be hosting a Tree Festival with events for all ages around our town. Majoring on the Weekends of 14/15 and 21/22 June these events will celebrate trees, remind us of our dependence on them, and offer chances learn a little, have fun, and maybe even plant some more. Here are some of the things to choose from:
- Get hands on making leaf prints whilst finding out about caring for apple trees, in the Apron Community Garden
- Experience a tree trail in Buckingham Park, with trees ancient and modern led by local tree professionals
- Celebrate the solstice by sculpting clay sun plaques and tree boggarts amongst the new orchards in The Meads
- Be inspired by a tree tour and maintenance workshop in various locations – Adur Rec, Southwick Rec.
- Find out why trees matter to bats and biodiversity, on a dusk walk in Buckingham Park
- Sing Folk songs in the Meads Orchard, with the Beesmouth Folk Choir
- Enjoy tree themed displays and competitions with Shoreham Shops Tree Tours
- Rediscover woodcrafting as we used to do with the Bushfolk, touching and making with an ancient resource
- Enter the sylvan spoken world of PoeTree at Beach Dreams Festival – immerse yourself in verse and relax
- Join the “Poplar Front: Still Standing” to recall and be joyful about local campaigners’ success in saving the lone Black Poplar outside the Duke of Wellington pub
- Be enchanted by tall tree tales from our resident storytelling.
Think on this…
More events and details will be rolling out in the coming months, but whatever appeals, think on this:
We don’t know what we can’t see, and haven’t experienced, do we? Before humans arrived here, there was woodland where Shoreham now stands, including on the Downs and to the seashore. There could be again, in our gardens, our verges, parks and even vertically on the walls of our flats (well maybe just shrubs).
Visualise cleaned air redolent with wood essential oils, giving shade, trunks storing carbon, mitigating floods, gently and subtly improving our mood. Turning where we live into an urban forest is possible and will help us all. There are many and varied ways in which to help.
Watch this space for more info.

PS: this festival is a result of many groups collaborating – a few are: The Shoreham Society, Transition Town Shoreham, Tree Action, Shoreham Wordfest, Campaign for Protection of Rural England, The Birch Tree Project.