Update 13 Feb 2021

On 25^th January 2021 twenty-seven trees were planted in Joe's memory at Little Wittenham Wood. Sadly, we were unable to attend - Alan, who is a participant in the Oxford Vaccine Trial, had a positive covid test and we were required to self-isolate for ten days. Fortunately, neither of us developed symptoms. 

We were keen for the planting to go ahead and send our grateful thanks to Tim and Beth for all their hard work. Tim, a Senior Warden from the Land Management Team, sent more information about Earth Trust's activities :

"We have recently increased the amount of work we are doing along the paths in Little Wittenham Wood in order to open up the main bridleway and allow more light in.  This has involved felling some of the more mature growth and planting species like Hazel, Guelder Rose and Spindle to create scrubby margins which form fantastic habitat for woodland birds and butterflies.  These scrub edges, combined with the increased light are really important for all kinds of species of birds and butterflies such as Blackcaps, Willow Warblers, Red Admirals, Fritillaries and more.  But also create excellent over-wintering habitat for our nationally important Great Crested Newt population as well as the frogs and toads which use our ponds and ditches nearby to breed each Spring.

These margins are all managed on rotation meaning they are cut back, protected and regrow every 7-10 years.  This cycle is reminiscent of traditional woodland management practices and is excellent for the wildlife as well as allowing us to harvest the wood for use on site.  Hazel is used to provide stakes and binders for our hedgelaying work around the farm, mature growth feeds the office central heating and thorny scrub such as rose and hawthorn is used to protect the cut Hazel from hungry deer as it recovers"

Today we went to see Joe's trees for ourselves and we have uploaded some photographs (see updates below).  We will upload a map with GPS coordinates in a future post.

Update 26 Nov 2020

We're approaching the anniversary of Joe's death in a year that has been like no other, and we hope you are all finding your way through the particular challenges it has presented for you.

Inevitably, Earth Trust has had its share of ups and downs. There has been a significant increase in visitor numbers to the Clumps and Little Wittenham Woods, which testifies to the importance of green spaces. However, a number of tasks associated with caring for the site were put on hold this year when a majority of staff were furloughed and all volunteering groups suspended.

We will update this page as further details become available to us.
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In early December 2019, our son Joe took his own life, aged 28.  He had been troubled by mental health problems over a number of years.

Joe was a passionate person and over the course of his life had an eclectic range of interests including basketball and hockey, composing electronic music, Japanese films, and software reverse engineering. 

He could always contemplate the big picture, but when asked about his
aesthetic preferences - a work station backlit by "fairy lights", for example - he was characteristically vague. "I just like them," he would say. 

He had an enduring interest in plants and trees and tried with varying degrees of success to grow yucca plants and bonsai trees in his flat. Earlier this year, a spruce tree he had planted in our garden as a child succumbed to drought. We will not be replacing it - the topsoil in our garden is shallow and the ground is rocky.

Instead, we want to honour Joe's memory by making a donation to
the Earth Trust to support the planting of trees at Little Wittenham in Oxfordshire. 

Your contributions would be most welcome.

Thank you

Ann & Alan Darbyshire