Prison plays key role in rare tree revival

A South Cumbria prison has become host to a special tree nursery where inmates approaching the end of their sentences are helping an ambitious project to restore endangered fauna and flora.

HMP Haverigg is playing a key role in the Back on our Map (BOOM) mission to encourage communities to get involved in a far-reaching four-year reintroduction programme for 10 threatened species.

With University of Cumbria leading the project and Morecambe Bay Partnership spearheading community action, it is backed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund. Working across South Cumbria, the aim is to roll out pioneering actions encouraging people to reconnect with nature.

BOOM’s community lead for aspen trees, Ellie Kent, explained while most of the public participation work had been shelved during Covid-19, the prison environment offered excellent opportunities for planting.

She said: “We will be working with the men to grow saplings on a new prison woodland site. Aspen are very important as no other British tree supports more biodiversity. They provide habitat for rare and nationally significant flies, moths, beetles, fungi, lichens and mosses.

“Once common across Cumbria, land use changes and increasing grazing have left only a few isolated strands. With their extensive root systems, they bind soil together, slowing water and reducing flooding.

“It will be great to see the branching out of these beautiful trees at Haverigg. They should do well as they are salt tolerant and can grow successfully on coastlines. Also, they’ll be off limits to deer - who like to nibble them – and have contributed to the serious decline.”

Ms Kent said as Populus tremula rarely produced seed, new aspen would be cultivated from root cuttings and transplanted across BOOM’s South Cumbrian range, where their distinctive leaves would ‘flutter in the wind’.

HMP Haverigg is in the process of becoming a category D open prison, offering offenders approaching the end of their sentences a range of new skills and improved transition into the community.

Its industrial manager, Stuart Jeynes, explained as well as aspen, the prison would be growing other important species for BOOM.

He added: “We are looking forward to working with the team and for our men to make an invaluable contribution to improving wildlife across the area.”

Once Covid-19 restrictions are lifted volunteers will be called on to help plant aspen and other species. For more information on BOOM go to:

https://www.facebook.com/BackOnOurMap

Ends

Interview requests to Karen Barden 015395 52366, 07793 083106

Picture shows HMP Haverigg

BOOM partner Art Gene’s Furness growing nursery where aspen saplings are being cultivated