Tree Planting

Synopsis

An early concern of the Society was deforestation, due to the need for fuel, construction and ship building. Although the concern wasn’t new and attempts had been made in the past to limit the use of wood for fuel, few serious efforts were made to replenish the depleted forests until the Society became involved. In 1755, Henry Baker presented to the Society on Edward Wade’s pamphlet intended “to promote the planting of timber trees in the common and waste ground all over the kingdom for the supply of the Navy, the employment and advantage of the poor as well as ornamenting the nation.” In 1757, it was decided to offer premiums for the planting of Oak, Chestnut and Lime Trees, with the first award made in 1758, which was a gold medal presented to the Duke of Beaufort for sowing acorns on twenty three acres of land in Hawksbury, Gloucestershire. Subsequently, further trees were added to the premium award list, including Fir in 1758 and Larch in 1773. By 1806, around 50 million trees had been planted, with over a million trees planted in that year alone. The initiative came to an end in 1846 with the last medal being awarded in 1835 to Edward Rogers for planting around 700,000 trees at Stanage Park, Radnor. However, in 2004 the campaign was revived to mark the Society’s 250th anniversary and its ongoing commitment to environmental concerns.

Shown are medals awarded to Henry Vernon in 1801 “For Planting 11,600 Elms” and W. M. Thackeray in 1809 “For Planting Forest Trees”.