Island Joins National Tree Warden Network – Residents Asked To Nominate Their Favourite Tree

A new volunteer scheme has launched on the Isle of Wight to help protect and care for much-loved trees and hedges — and Islanders are being invited to nominate their favourite tree to celebrate.

On Monday 10 November, the Island officially joined the national Tree Council programme with the creation of a new Isle of Wight Tree Warden network.

Local charity Wight Nature Fund introduced the scheme to around 36 attendees from parish and town councils, environmental groups and the Isle of Wight Council, at a launch event hosted by the Isle of Wight Steam Railway in Havenstreet.

The Tree Council itself delivered a presentation outlining the importance of tree care and conservation across the UK.

Other speakers included IW Council Tree Officer Jerry Willis, Helen Butler MBE from the Isle of Wight Red Squirrel Trust, and environmental consultant Ian Boyd, who helped shape the Island’s new Local Nature Recovery Strategy.

Thomas Cowley from Wight Nature Fund, who has spent over a year working with local partners to secure the scheme, said the new network will help bring volunteers together to improve knowledge and care for trees across the Island.

“There is a clear need to improve and update local knowledge about trees across the Island,”he said.

“The Tree Warden network will secure volunteers to do that, using a well-proven national framework to help deliver better care for trees in and around public spaces.”

Wight Nature Fund has funded the first year of the network — processed via Yarmouth Town Council — and has coordinated the initial recruitment of volunteer wardens.

The charity is also developing an online information hub for the new team.

Nominate your favourite Island tree

To mark the launch, Islanders are being asked to nominate their favourite tree. It could be a well-known landmark — like the Dragon Tree in Brighstone or the Umbrella Tree in East Cowes — or a hidden gem with personal significance.

Nominations can be sent to trees@wnf.org.uk.

Tree Wardens needed

The scheme is also looking for more volunteer Tree Wardens in several areas, including:

• Brading

• Brighstone

• Calbourne, Newtown and Porchfield

• Godshill

• Havenstreet and Ashey

• Newchurch

• Shalfleet

• Shanklin

• Shorwell

• Totland

• Whippingham

Anyone interested in volunteering can email trees@wnf.org.uk for more information.