As part of our Nature Pledges campaign, we are inviting residents of Chelmsford District to adopt a tree near them, helping to keep it hydrated and healthy.

Warm, sunny summer days are great for flora and fauna, providing energy for all things green to grow. However, the heat can also dry out the soil and leave trees extremely thirsty. Much like us, trees need more water during the summer months.

Newly added tags will indicate which trees need a little extra help this summer. These tags are attached to tree bags on young trees planted in recent years. If you spot one near you – on your commute or while walking the dog – why not make it your mission to care for it? By adopting a tree, you can sign up to pledge for nature and join the community of people helping Chelmsford to thrive!

There will also a handy feature on the Adopt at Tree page of  our Love Your Chelmsford website, which acts as a tree treasure map. You’ll be able to locate trees in your area, explore your neighbourhood, and start watering to make a difference.

To look after your tree, we recommend using recycled water. Bath, shower or dishwashing water is ideal and helps reduce waste. This water can be poured into the green bag located near the base of the tree. If a bag is not present, water can be added directly into the irrigation pipe or onto the ground around the base.

The recommended amount for trees of this size is two to three litres weekly, which doesn’t have to be achieved in one go, little and often also works. Any contribution is greatly appreciated, but to give the water the best chance of reaching the roots, it’s best to water in the morning or evening when temperatures are cooler to reduce evaporation.

For those of you who are worried about overwatering, these trees store a lot of water however if the bag is full of water or the irrigation pipe overflowing then that’s the sign to leave watering for another day.

Fresh rainwater is also excellent for watering trees. However stagnant water that has been stored for long periods may contain bugs that could possibly harm the young tree. So, if you have a method of collecting rainwater, we recommend using it as soon as it’s gathered.

Your help matters – we’d like to thank everyone in advance who joins the adopt a tree initiative. Trees are an essential part of our ecosystem, absorbing carbon dioxide, reducing soil erosion, providing shade in urban environments and supporting wildlife creating micro-habitats.

Find out more on our Nature Pledge page which will provide further details about this specific pledge.

Article by Issy Lyons (Corporate Marketing Officer)