ONE ASH
‘One Ash’ is a ‘6 Trees & 6 Flowers’ project with a focus on sustainable forestry.
In three parts – meet the tree, be there for its felling, follow the tree’s gift of timber as it passes into the hands of the people who will process it – ‘One Ash’ will give 130 pupils and students from 4 Andover schools a greater understanding of the role of trees in our lives. We hope it will inspire them to see trees in a new light and bring a greater connection to this precious natural resource.
Through meetings with craftsmen, artists and wood processors and, where feasible, visits to workshops, the young people involved will be introduced to the world of wood and the people who work it. They will have the chance to follow the journey of the timber from one felled ash and chart the many forms that we hope it will take over the next two and a half years.
Schools involved:
Andover C of E Primary
Appleshaw St Peters C of E Primary
Vernham Dean Gillums C of E Primary
Harrow Way Community
Project updates:
Inspired by The Sylva Foundation’s ‘One Oak’ project, the ‘One Ash’ project continues to develop learning in the natural environment by bringing attention to ash dieback disease and nurturing a greater understanding of sustainable forest management.
Inspiration also comes from Writer Robert Penn’s book and homage to the ash tree ‘The Man Who Made Things Out of Trees’ (2015).
Tree Felling. February 13th 2020, Englefield Estate
"This was a fantastic day to be involved with, the sort of day that becomes a lifetime memory. So well organised, the felling of the tree was an awe-inspiring experience to launch the project for the young people present, ably backed up by their being able to interact with the craftspeople whilst enjoying being in the forest setting.”
- Jan, Education Officer, Newbury and District Agricultural Society.
“Please can I pass on a big thank you from Year 3 and 4 at Andover CofE Primary to Becky, Wendy, the Englefield team, ATU volunteers and everyone who helped us enjoy a fantastic time at the tree felling today.”
- Charlotte, Primary school teacher.
Maisy, jumping through the mud: "I love it, I love it, I love it!"
Ben asking Colin questions about his woodwork tools: "How do you learn to make the oars? Does it take a long time to learn how to use this (tool)?
Ava, trying gluten free soup for the first time: "I actually really liked it. And I ate it all!"
Riley, at the tree felling site: "I do think trees are really important because without them we couldn't breathe in all this fresh air."
Ellie, when asked if she was having fun: "Yes, I just love being outside!"
Sam, when looking inside trunks at the tree felling site: "Oh look, a huge spider! I wonder if it lived inside the ash tree and now it has to find a new home?"
Guilherme, when walking through the woods: "It is pretty cool that I've seen a birch tree now because we are birch class and I never even knew what one looked like!"
- Pupils from Andover CofE Primary School
“The day was so well thought out despite the earlier weather doing its best to confound the plans.
Loved seeing such enthusiastic children listening attentively, enjoying the mud.
Landowner and his forestry team so engaged in the whole project.
Many interesting people to talk to and all committed to engaging children with trees and their upkeep. No good just planting a tree - it needs management.”
- Long-term ATU supporter, Elizabeth Maclay MBE, commenting on tree felling day.
“We had a great time with a fabulous atmosphere”
- Caroline, Andover Trees United volunteer
“It was lovely to meet you today and wanted to thank you and your team for organising such a successful day, even the weather smiled on us. I am very conscious of the amount of work that goes into these sort of events and very much appreciated the opportunity to be part of it. I was also very impressed by the impeccable behaviour of the children, what a result.”
- George, artist and wood turner