1.5 mile avenue along the River Tees

As far as the eye can see along the River Tees, walkers, locals and visitors can now enjoy a tree-lined promenade, thanks to the planting efforts of the Middlesbrough Rotary Club members.  David Hill, owner and third generation nursery owner and grower at A Hill and Sons Nursery in Stokesley, is a long-standing member of Stokesley Rotary Club and a proud supporter of local community and charitable events across the region. Friend and fellow Rotarian Geoff Taylor has been working with parent Rotary Club Middlesbrough Erimus with ambitious plans to line a previously neglected open space behind Teesaurus Park and the river bank running up to it from Newport Bridge. This planting project forms part of the Club’s Centenary celebrations and has seen support from the local council, Boro Community Champions, Mayor Andy Preston and most recently by PD Ports, the local Harbour Authority.

Locally-grown Trees from Hills Nursery

Part of three National Trails and a vital green route between Stockton and Middlesbrough, the planting plan was to line the way with 150 trees. Selected for foliage, suitability and seasonal interest, the trees were chosen from home-grown stock at Hills Nursery as well as sourcing additional varieties from the tree grower’s specialist network of suppliers across the country.  The tree purchases have been funded from individual donations from local Rotarians and boosted by grant from Rotary North East.

Rotarians getting to grips with Airpots and tree potting

David Hill (holding the tree) of A Hill and Sons Nursery

The Growing and Planting Schedule

From the first call to Hills in November 2020, it was decided that the most cost-effective and sensible option was to select fifty smaller trees, pot them and grow them on for a year. Hills set aside production space for potting on, provided the reusable “Airpots” for the 6/8 cm girth trees and guided the Members on best potting practice from the outset.

Airpots encourage quick, fibrous root development, allowing air to circulate within the pot, growing medium and root structure, encouraging fine roots and an overall healthier end result.

Tree Production Expertise

With the initial tree selection complete and under the expert guidance of David and his nursery production team (with over 100 years’ growing history behind them), the Rotarians potted the smaller trees with a view to returning a growing season later when the trees would have filled out to 8/10cm or 10/12 cm in girth. With these more substantial standard trees, the Rotary members could set to planting them along the river pathway towards the Bridge.

Trees ready to despatch from the Stokesley nursery

Tree planting alongside the River Tees

The Tree Selection

Chosen by the Rotarians for their soil and location suitability, the British native trees selected, potted and planted are:

• Acer Campestre (Field Maple) 
• Acer platanoides varieties (Norway Maple) 
• Betula varieties (Birch)
• Carpinus (Hornbeam)
• Crataegus (Hawthorn)
• Fagus (Beech)
• Quercus (Oak)
• Malus varieties (Crab Apple)
• Prunus varieties (Cherry)
• Salix varieties (Willow)
• Sorbus varieties (Rowan)
• Tilia varieties (Lime)

Returning with a second phase of trees

Assessing the remaining space and further trees required, the Rotarians negotiated a further 100 trees from Hills stock and supply network, sourced by Hills procurement team and supplied at less than cost for the cause. The newly-established Rotarian Potting Team returned in Winter 2021, under the watchful eye of David once more, with a view to returning for the remaining trees and preparing for the next planting window in November/December 2022.  This will go a long way toward completing a 1.5 mile avenue of trees alongside the Tees and transforming a part of the Teesdale Way into “Treesdale Way”!

Centenary Partners

Hills Nursery celebrated their centenary themselves in 2021 and the business continues to grow and supply trees, shrubs, topiary, conifers and hedging to landscapers, estates and developments across the region.  David’s grandfather Alan Hill started the business in 1921 and David’s sons Simon and Julian are now firmly part of the company, managing the Sales and Production departments and the staff at their Stokesley base.  They have supplied the production space, reusable pots, compost, liquid feed, irrigation and upkeep of the 150 trees over the past two years and also supported the Rotarians as they pruned the growing stock earlier this year.

Speaking as one of the tree projects main organisers, Geoff Taylor praised the collaboration with Hills, local support and authorities:

“Working with David and his team has been hugely beneficial to our project; their knowledge, facilities and our long-standing friendship have made this ambition viable. The generosity of Hills toward our goal has been remarkable, not only in terms of the trees themselves, but their time and energy. Last month ‘Tees Trees’ won the Rotary North East Environmental award for 2021-2022 - David and his team deserve their part of the credit for that achievement.” 

David Hill who supported the Rotarians throughout from tree selection and supply to their planting regimes said:

 “My association with The Rotary Club and supporting local community programmes such as this in Stokesley and the surrounding areas goes back many years. Being able to supply the trees and providing support and expertise passed down through the family business since it was started over 100 years ago is an honour - and the end result is an impressive legacy to the Rotary Club, the nursery and a fitting natural tribute that can be enjoyed by riverside visitors and patrons for decades to come."

"Supporting the environment” is one of the seven areas of focus for each Rotary Club worldwide.  Marking the Middlesbrough groups Centenary and supported by a 100 year old  local business and tree grower Hills, the tree planting will be of benefit to local and visiting communities, as well as the area’s greener outlook.