ON 14 May, Simon N’jie, managing director of Artemis Tree Services, joined six others in the Fund4Trees charity bike ride around Brighton.

The 12-mile undulating course featured spectacular sights in and around Brighton and the coastline, reaching an elevation of 250 m. Joining Simon were Mike from Connick Tree Care, four arb consultants and the event organiser, Russell Ball.

The ride included two pit stops for ‘young tree maintenance’ (YTM) workshops at two schools, involving around 50 children. Russell and his colleague discussed young tree aftercare and maintenance, and the team helped clear weeds and add woodchip around the base of some newly planted trees. The workshop was well delivered, with the children highly engaged and asking many questions.

A talk at Racehill.A talk at Racehill. (Image: Supplied)

The riders paused for lunch in Preston Park, where they had the opportunity to meet elm expert Peter Bourne. Peter and Alister from Connick Tree Care shared fascinating insights about the surviving Preston Twin, which stands tall in honour of its former sibling. The Preston Twins were the last of their kind in the UK, believed to be the largest and oldest English elms globally, dating back approximately 400 years. The ‘Gilded Elm’ left a remarkable impression on everyone.

In the afternoon, a stop was made at Racehill Community Orchard, where Robbie delivered an insightful talk about the community’s efforts in maintaining the orchard, generously donated by a philanthropist. Situated across three acres with a picturesque view stretching from Whitehawk to the sea, the orchard features an array of native plant species, including spear thistle, sycamore, wild parsnip, field scabious, wild basil, and wild marjoram, attracting diverse local wildlife.

Simon said: “It was an incredibly enjoyable day. The enthusiasm from everyone involved was contagious. Cycling around Brighton and meeting such interesting individuals was a highlight. I’m certainly looking forward to participating in the next bike ride and eager to assist Fund4Trees in promoting their charity moving forward. Promoting tree planting and nurturing young trees is vital, and engaging with children gives us optimism for the future.”

On their bikes.On their bikes. (Image: Supplied)

The ride also formed part of the Brighton and Hove Tree Festival. Running over two weekends in May, the festival offers a host of free family events for everyone to enjoy.

Fund4Trees is a charity Artemis Tree Services likes to work closely with, promoting sustainable treescapes. It has three main objectives:

  • Promoting the conservation and improvement of the natural environment
  • Educating the public, especially young people, about the protection and improvement of trees particularly in and around urban areas
  • Advancing research in all aspects of trees.

More information about its work, fundraising events and what it has achieved over the years can be found at www.fund4trees.org.uk.

To help support sustainable treescapes across Britain, visit the Fund4Trees JustGiving page.