Trees & Woodlands Strategy: Here we go round the mulberry bush

Friday 4 November

Could this black mulberry tree in Handsworth be the oldest of its kind in the north? It measures at around 450 years old - yes, that's 450 years old. Imagine just how many people have skipped around this mulberry bush! Imagine how many jars of jam have been made from the fruit this tree has produced!

This veteran mulberry tree is just one of more than 2million trees that we look after in Sheffield. Catherine Nuttgens, our Access to Nature Project Officer explains in our video how this tree requires specific care and management to maintain and prolongue its life so that it can be enjoyed for hundreds of years to come.

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUP-H7CHls4[/embed]

Mulberries were introduced in the thousands back in the 17th century, by King James the first to support England's silk industry - maybe this is where our tree's journey began.

Our draft trees and woodlands strategy has been written to help us plan how we will manage trees, just like this one, and all of our 180 woodlands for the next 14 years.

We want Sheffield residents to help us with these plans and are asking people to get involved with our consultation.

The consultation launched on Friday 30 September and runs until Thursday 1 December 2016. People can read the draft strategy document plus other supporting documents, and complete the survey at https://sheffield.citizenspace.com/place-planning-1/trees-and-woodlands-strategy-consultation. The draft strategy document is also available at www.sheffield.gov.uk/parksandcountryside.

All feedback will be analysed and considered to help inform the final strategy document, which will be released for implementation in 2017.

People who need an alternative way to provide feedback or have any questions can contact parksandcountryside@sheffield.gov.uk or call 0114 2500500.