The Green Infrastructure Group focuses on how trees, woodland, parks and other green spaces in and around the town can improve health and well-being, and quality of life, of Petersfield’s residents and visitors.  The Group’s title reflects the fact that the town’s green spaces are largely purposefully created and require management intervention in order that they deliver important goods and services.

We seek to help official agencies in the protection of existing trees and green space, and to support the creation of new examples for the benefit of the community.  We monitor threats to green infrastructure posed by development and challenge proposals where appropriate.

In recent years, much of the activity of the Group has centred on sharing its understanding of the importance of green space with local politicians, officers and the general public.  It has held several Open Forums which have been well attended.  It participates in festivals in the town to  promote the importance of greenspace.  Members of the Group were instrumental in helping to save the majestic maple trees in Petersfield Square from being felled when EHDC brought forward proposals to do so in 2015.

Understanding the nature of Petersfield’s green infrastructure has also been a significant activity, in order that sound decisions can be made about its management.  Group members helped to design, manage and execute the comprehensive survey of trees in the town, published as a report in 2017.  A subsequent survey of public areas in the town where trees could be planted was completed and published by the Petersfield Society in 2021. The  report was, and continues to be, very influential in determining the Town Council’s greenspace policy.

Since 2021, GIG members, particularly Robin Hart, the town’s longstanding Tree Warden, have supported the publication of the Petersfield Tree Trail.  This identifies a highly enjoyable walk through Petersfield, taking in some of its most beautiful and iconic trees.  The booklet has been extremely popular, and is now in its third edition.

Several GIG members support the Town Council as invited lay members of its Tree Planning Working Group, whose purpose is ‘to identify and pursue opportunities to protect existing tree stock and increase tree and hedgerow cover within the Petersfield Parish Boundary’. The Tree Planning working group terms of reference can be see here.

GIG members are active in supporting other voluntary Groups in the town with similar interests, including Friends of Petersfield Heath, Petersfield Community Garden, Petersfield Climate Action Network (PeCAN) and the Petersfield Tree Wardens (see below).  Many members get involved practically with the management of vegetation at a number of greenspace sites, and the planting and maintenance of trees.  More recently, we have influenced town policy and practice in how the town might become more resilient in the face of climate change, and have been invited to share our expertise on how the amenity area around the childrens playground and Plump Duck café on the Heath might be restored.  A survey to understand residents’ attitudes to the town’s major greenspaces and their management will be launched early in 2026.

Petersfield Tree Wardens

The Petersfield Society works very closely with Petersfield Tree Wardens to support the protection of the town’s trees, and in increasing their numbers.  The Tree Wardens are part of the national Tree Wardening scheme run by the Tree Council, and supported by the Town Council.  In recent years, Tree Wardens have been vigilant in reviewing any proposals for tree works (including tree felling) of trees in the town’s Conservation Area, and any trees made subject to a Tree Protection Order.  They are also energetic in participating in the various tree planting programmes in the town (notably in the tree planting season between November and March).  These have mainly been instigated by Petersfield Town Council through its Tree Planning Working Group, whose membership includes several Tree Wardens.  Subsequently, they help in watering newly planted trees during periods of dry weather.

A new project in 2026 will involve Tree Wardens monitoring the provision of trees and the quality of newly created greenspace areas in new developments in the town, in order to ensure that commitments made during the planning process are kept.  Another project in preparation is to help in a national programme of tree health monitoring, a response to the national threat to our trees from invasive pests and pathogens from abroad.  Other activities that Tree Wardens can get involved with include promoting the importance of trees at public events, visiting schools to enthuse school children, and reporting damage to trees, for example after storms or vandalism.

Further information on Tree Wardening can be found here: https://treecouncil.org.uk/tree-wardens/, and anyone interested in joining the Petersfield group should contact Dr Andy Moffat, volunteer co-ordinator, by emailing treewardenseasthants@gmail.com