A Festival of Trees at Petersfield Community Garden
Saturday 22nd February 10am - 2pm
This year we invite you to join us for a Festival of Trees - a special event run in partnership with PeCAN, Petersfield Community Garden, and East Hampshire District Council, to celebrate the benefits of trees and learn more about them.
It will be an opportunity to find out more about tree care, with free demonstrations on planting and pruning, as well as guidance on how to use willow and hazel. Expert advice will be on offer - on soil suitability and planting for the future - with climate change in mind. There will be stalls featuring the Forestry Commission, local groups, and craftspeople.
This will be an event for the whole family, with activities for children, and warming refreshments.
Tree Festival Information
Demonstrations & Trails
Free demonstrations on planting and pruning will give you the knowledge needed to look after your trees
Fruit Tree Pick-up Point
Collect the bare root fruit tree you ordered! Choose from a selection if you arrive early enough...
Children's Activities
We are planning a variety of fun and engaging activities for children of all ages in the Community Garden
How to get there
Essential information about where the festival is and how to get there, parking advice, maps and other useful details
Demos & Trails Programme
Experts will be on hand all day to demonstrate how to plant and prune your trees, and to offer advice on grafting, layering, and training. Find out everything you've ever wanted to know about how to look after a tree!
Petersfield Area Lichen Enthusiasts will also offer a couple of fascinating lichen trails. Join them to have your eyes opened to a precious microscopic world we all take for granted.
Linda will offer two free willow workshops in the marquee. Learn more about its uses, how to weave it and how to grow it. You will leave with a very simple willow shape you have created, and a pack of willow to plant at home. Please note that space is limited, but you can register here.
All tree demonstrations will take place in the Community Garden Orchard.
10.30 Planting Your Tree
10.45 Willow Workshop (marquee, book your place)
11.00 Pruning Your Tree
11.30 Morris Dancing! (Wildflower Meadow)
11.45 Lichen Trail (Start at round Eco Shelter)
12.00 Planting Your Tree
12.00 Willow Workshop (marquee, book your place)
12.30 Lichen Trail (Start at round Eco Shelter)
13.00 Pruning Your Tree
Fruit Tree Pick-up Point
When you arrive at the Community Garden you will be directed to the tree pick up point where you can confirm your tree order and receive a label for collection. From there you can collect your trees to either take away or deposit in the holding bay - while you grab a warm drink or snack, make the most of the expert advice on offer, attend free demonstrations, and explore the craft stalls and activities for children!
Please bring along a large plastic bag for each tree you are collecting.
Old compost sacks work well. The bare root trees will need to be covered in transit to stop their roots drying out. You will be sent full planting instructions before the pick up date, but it is worth remembering that bare root trees should be planted within 48 hours of pick up. If you can't plant them within that time frame then you will need to heel them in. We will provide more information on this in the demonstrations.
Children's Activities
We will have a wealth of activities for children on offer in the self-contained Community Garden.
Take the chance to make patterns with seeds, sow broad beans, sow cress in egg shell halves, and create leaf rubbings. Help to repair the fairy garden and dinosaur garden after the winter storms, and make a nature picture at the craft table!
In the Community Garden you will also find some delicious, warming, and homemade refreshments - tea, coffee, mulled apple juice, soup and cakes.
How to get to the festival
The Festival will be held at the Petersfield Community Garden with trails and demonstrations on adjacent parts of the Adhurst Estate. Everything will be within easy walking distance.
Full address: Waterworks Rd, Petersfield, GU32 2AT
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We ask that you please walk or cycle, if you can. If you are collecting a tree, it can be a challenge to transport this way, but we have seen bare root trees transported by bicycle at previous fruit tree collections. Please remember to bring an old plastic bag to wrap the muddy roots up in, and bear in mind that the trees are likely to be approximately 2 metres long / tall.
For those travelling by car we ask that you share transport where possible, particularly since we might be very busy. Please park on Long Road and walk to the Community Garden pedestrian gate on the corner. This will be the main entrance point. Please take care when crossing the road.
Toilets will be available on site, near the Adhurst Allotment car park.
