An introduction to the South Hams Tree Warden Network

When you live in a beautiful part of the world it’s all too easy to take your surroundings for granted. Take the trees in our environment, for example: how often do we pass them by without a second thought for the vital role they play in maintaining the delicate balance that enables our species to survive? And yet our trees are constantly under threat: from pests and from diseases – think of ash dieback – but mostly from humans, who present by far the greatest danger to the tree population worldwide. Happily, most people these days have a better understanding of the importance of trees in supporting biodiversity, and this is recognised through the protection afforded to trees under the law. The South Hams Tree Warden Network is a group of volunteers who keep a watching eye on trees throughout the South Hams, ensuring that attempts to fell, clear, or otherwise interfere with protected trees cannot happen by stealth. This article by Thelma Rumsey, secretary of SHTWN, explains more.