RENOWNED plant pathologist Pippa Greenwood has launched The Petersfield Society’s latest publication ‘Petersfield’s Trees - their importance and value’.

This new publication includes and considers the results of the i-Tree survey of Petersfield’s trees carried out over the summer last year by community volunteers working through The Petersfield Society.

It shows what can be achieved by Petersfield’s strong and spirited community, willing and able to articulate and act upon its desire to improve the green infrastructure in the town.

Working alongside and in harmony with the town and district councils and South Downs National Park Authority, Petersfield’s community produced the town’s neighbourhood plan, the first in Britain’s newest national park.

This report takes things forward. It develops an understanding of the town’s trees so that, working closely with the authorities, the community can develop plans for the enhancement of Petersfield’s natural environment to the benefit of all citizens.

The survey is one of the first of its kind in the UK for an historic market town like Petersfield. It is anticipated that its type and methods will be ‘rolled out’ across the National Park, linking with other Park project initiatives. It may also be used as an exemplar for other similar towns and communities.

‘Petersfield’s Trees - their importance and value’ was launched on Monday at One Tree Books, on Lavant Street, by Pippa Greenwood, botanist, gardening expert, author, radio and television personality, tree enthusiast, and president of Petersfield in Bloom.

Pippa is pictured with Callum King, head boy at The Petersfield School, and society trustee Andy Moffat, project manager and principal author of the report.