CARBON AWARE PRODUCTIONS
CARBON AWARE PRODUCTIONS
NEWSLETTER 2024
Thanks to our funders, over the past 4 years CAP has been able to plant an incredible 28,590 trees and deployed 53 trays of kelp plants into the sea. Every plant does its bit to suck up excess carbon dioxide and breathe life into the natural world and every penny has been appreciated. Our most recent updates from the field are below.
PLANTING KELP FORESTS
PLACE
Cascais Portugal
WHEN
Sept 2024
PLANTED
33 Trays of Sea Kelp
PARTNERS
SeaForester & Mossy Earth
CAP's kelp plants were grown on small stones in optimum conditions in a lab and, once established, were then dropped into a protected reef off the coast of Cascais in Portugal. ​
Kelp forests are not only important marine ecosystems, they are prized for their carbon sequestering abilities. They grow quickly and can absorb CO2 plus other marine pollutants at speed. Globally kelp forests cover 5x the area of coral reefs, but they are also declining 4x faster. With energy thrown at protecting kelp forest locations and work around re-planting techniques, the tide can turn and kelp forests do come back.
TREE PLANTING AROUND THE SOMERSET LEVELS
PLACE
Somerset
HOW MANY
1867 Trees
PARTNERS
Reimagining the Levels
WHEN
Spring 2024
Flooding in the Somerset Levels is not a new problem, but it is getting worse. We have joined with a volunteer group at Reimagining the Levels to plant trees throughout the area to help break up flood waters, channelling it underground. Summer photos to the right.
HEDGE PLANTING AT THE GERANIUM TRUST
PLACE
Yeovil Somerset
WHEN
March 2024
HOW MANY
1350 Hedge Trees
PARTNERS
Reimagining the Levels
The Geranium Trust HQ is a 23 acre wildlife haven for people needing peace or friendship and access to nature. Founder, Terrance "Paul" Palfrey, is thrilled with the planting which was largely funded by Stink Films. He writes,
​
“2024 has been a difficult year as we had a long dry spell which didn't help the saplings to put on as much growth as we had expected. But, hopefully having got well established they will do well in the 2025 growing season. Thank you again for making this possible. So many people get so much pleasure volunteering and visiting the wildlife haven."​
EXMOOR'S TEMPERATE RAINFOREST
HOW MANY
1600 Trees
WHEN
March 2024
In March 2024, 1600 CAP trees were planted in Exmoor's National Park to boost one of the UK’s last refuges of precious temperate rainforest. The trees grew well over the summer with several of the rowan trees poking above the 1.5m tree guards. Unfortunately, some of the Scots Pine have not survived and, although it is not unusual for a new woodland, those will be replaced this winter.
HOW MANY
1118 Trees
PARTNERS
Tree Source
WHEN
Nov 2022
FUNDERS
Stink Films
PLANTING FOOD FORESTS IN BATH
In November 2022, Stink Films funded the planting of 1118 beech, oak, hornbeam, alder trees plus smaller fruit & nut trees on former farmland outside Bath. The trees have bloomed with few losses.
​
A food forest is an ancient form of land use, ideal for the present day. In time the trees will provide food and medicine, as well as drawing down carbon dioxide; and having this diversity of species planted together means they have the best chance of withstanding the challenges of climate change.
THE FOREST OF MARSTON VALE
HOW MANY
6500 Trees
WHEN
2022 & 2023
WHERE
Bedfordshire
Between 2022 and 2023 CAP funded the planting of 6500 trees at the now wonderful Forest of Marston Vale. Once a forgotten area of brickwork factories and industry, this 61 square mile area has slowly been transformed into a community wildlife haven with over 2 million trees planted.
The woodlands are growing well and the Forest Charity continues to work hard to draw people and wildlife in to enjoy it. This year they have made a Sensory Wildlife Garden for those with physical or mental health conditions to explore; they have run a Great Big Green Week with a Swap Store encouraging people to make ‘green swaps in their everyday lives’; they have lovingly created timber bat roost boxes to support the local population and they continue to plant hectare upon hectare of woodland trees.
HOW MANY
13,030 Trees
WHEN
2021 - 2023
PLACE
Scotland
PARTNERS
Mossy Earth
RIVERSIDE PLANTING IN SCOTLAND
Between Autumn 2021 and Autumn 2023 CAP funded the planting of over 13,000 riverside trees in Scotland’s beautiful Kyle of Sutherland with Mossy Earth & the Kyle Sutherland Fisheries Trust. These trees are doing extremely well, some now taller than the planting team! They will eventually provide shade and nutrients for the waters, giving a cooler and healthier environment for the Atlantic salmon, otters and white-tailed eagles who live there.
ALLADALE WILDERNESS RESERVE
In 2021, 3125 CAP trees were planted in the beautiful Alladale Wilderness Reserve. It was part of an ambitious project to plant almost a million trees in the area. It paved the way for the re-establishment of a healthy red squirrel population and also for the steady re-introduction of the Scotland’s secretive wild cat.
Photos © Alladale Wilderness Reserve
