Crosby Ravensworth is a rural parish in the Eden valley in East Cumbria. The farmland in the parish is well endowed with large numbers of mature trees which give the landscape its unique appearance.

Unfortunately a combination of winter storm damage, felling and ash dieback is resulting in a regular loss of trees at a time when all the emphasis is on the need for more trees to combat global warming.

The Crosby Ravensworth Parish Tree Group has been formed to carry out a survey of all the trees in the parish, to identify locations where replacement planting can be carried out and then to plant and maintain the new trees. We currently have twenty volunteers who have started with the survey work and who will then be engaged in planting and maintenance.

The results of our early surveys indicate that over 92% of our trees are either old (over 100 years) or middle aged (over 50 years). Less than 0.5% has been planted in the last ten years. They also show that nearly 20% of our trees are Ash which we anticipate will die over the next 5-10 years.

Imagine 20% of our trees like this

We are receiving advice and support from The Woodland Trust, The Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, The Eden Rivers Trust and the Crosby Ravensworth Parish Council

Although all our volunteers are unpaid, we do have significant costs in protecting trees from sheep, cattle and deer and the funds raised will all go to cover these costs.

This is a long term project. During this winter (2019/20) we are hoping to plant over 1000 trees at a cost in excess of £10,000. If our fundraising is successful we hope to increase this year on year. In doing this we are not only enhancing the appearance of our landscape but we are also helping to combat global warming

Your help would be greatly appreciated. £5 buys us a tree with stake and tube, £10 protects it from sheep, £20 protects it from cattle and deer. 'Every little helps'!

All funds raised are paid to the newly constituted Crosby Ravensworth Parish Tree Group.