More than 300 people took part in a celebration of trees in Petersfield last weekend.

The Festival of Trees took part on Saturday, February 22 at the Petersfield Community Garden and offered visitors the opportunity to celebrate the benefits of trees and learn more about them.

It was held in partnership with Petersfield Climate Action Network (PeCAN), Petersfield Community Garden, Petersfield Town Council, and East Hampshire District Council.

The event formed art of PeCAN’s ‘A Fruit Tree in Every Garden’ project, which is now in its fifth year. Overall, 1,200 fruit trees were distributed via the project this season, with a further 100 supplied by Petersfield Town Council. It means that, over the past five years, PeCAN and collaborators have distributed more than 3,000 trees!

Forty volunteers generously supported the event.

Local tree wardens and representatives of Petersfield Society Green Infrastructure Group were on hand to offer advice, along with spokespeople from The Forestry Commission. Local craftspeople displayed nature-inspired ceramics and weaver Linda Bingham hosted two very popular willow workshops for beginners. Petersfield Area Lichen Enthusiasts were on hand to help identify lichens and share expertise about this wonderful microscopic world.

Children were able to explore nature by creating fairy gardens, making leaf rubbings, creating shapes from beans and seeds, and planting. All activities were offered free of charge.

PeCAN would love to hear feedback from attendees and are encouraging people to fill in a short survey. Link here.