Operation OASIS

Please adapt this project as your own and distribute in your area or email it to a friend: It Works!

A Pocket Full Of Acorns

The messenger
In 1995 while driving home on a dual carriageway in Torquay, Devon, I saw what appeared to be an injured bird three cars ahead. The cars in front of me drove over the bird but did not hit it. Having pulled over and picked up a beautiful green and red male woodpecker, I put him on the passenger seat, ignoring the beeping horns of impatient drivers. Continuing home hoping that I would be in time to save this unfortunate chap, I looked into his eyes as
they rolled back in his head as he gave his last breath. I held one hand on his motionless breast in the hope that he still had some signs of life.
Saddened and angered I continued to drive. About four or five minutes later, I caught a glimpse, In the adjusted mirror, of what appeared to be a breath from the injured woodpecker, then to
my astonishment he began to come around dragging himself over and placing his head on my lap, staring directly into my eyes. Jan, a friend who knows a bit about wounded animals, nursed him back to health and we eventually released him into a copse in the Westerland valley near Paignton in Devon. I still to this day hear a woodpecker in the copse and wander if it is the same chap that rested his head on my lap. The message was very clear that day and will stay with me forever and is the reason for the following offering.

A Pocket Full Of Acorns

Having recently been told the story of the old shepherd and a soldiers chance meeting in France, during the war, I would like the chance to share it with you.

The soldier watched as the shepherd attended his sheep, and was curious as to his habit of dropping something into the soil and heeling it into the soft earth. He was in fact planting acorns as he tended his flock, and had been doing so for many years. As the soldier looked around him, he noticed that all the trees he could see were in fact oak, from mighty oaks to saplings. He later found that the old shepherd was entirely responsible for the creation of this magnificent oak forest and all it's inhabitants.

One cannot help wandering why the human race does not see the wisdom in replanting the trees that we have squandered. "For man has no deeper or older debt than the one he owes to the tree.
In addition to mans devastation natural disasters frequent the Earth, like the Dutch elm disease or the recent fires in Australia, Spain, Burma, Indonesia and the USA. Or floods, mudslides and storms-often amplified by the absence of trees wreak havoc as they level the last remaining remnants of once great woods and forests. One such storm visited the UK one-day in 1987 and left a trail of destruction with the loss of over 19 million trees.

How simple it would be to follow the wonderful example of the French shepherd and carry a forest in our pockets. Full of acorns, or cherry, chestnut, horse chestnut, maple, beech, hazel, apple, or any other kind of native tree seed we could turn this tide of destruction. Locating suitable sites, even in built up areas is very easy, gaining permission to create woodland takes time, but you will succeed if you are persistent. Use the media to encourage landowners to join you and to invite people to bring and plant their seeds and saplings. Design and Display a "Pocket Full of Acorns"
sign at the entrance to your site to indicate that this particular area is to be transformed into woodland or forest.

Each time we visit the English moors to revel in the barren wastelands that we call our "National Parks?" We should remember that these were once great forests, teeming with life. Wild boar, bear, deer and wolf, to mention a few all roamed what was once great forest. Our ancestors whose epitaph lays in the stone remnants, littered all over these lands used fire in order to
drive the animals out of the trees so they could be killed in comfort, with no regard for their actions or the future of our planet. Grasses were planted to feed domesticated animals and to make bread, spelling doom for all trees until the land became so impoverished man was forced to abandon it.
Today in certain parts of the world like Indonesia this strange tradition is still implemented. But I wander how many of us realise that the moors are still moors because they are still burned in the same way. Perhaps not for the same reasons but with the same devastating results! Farmers in the UK are now forbidden to burn straw because of its affect on our environment. Sooner or later all burning must stop. I have recently visited Snake Pass in the Peak District, only to find dead and dying trees and vast areas of soil erosion. The native Australians like the ancient Egyptians have continued to burn their land and have succeeded in reducing almost all of their land to desert. When we realise just how simple it would be to take a pocket full of seeds, from a tree, with us on our day out and heel them into the soft earth, just like the old shepherd in France. I can't help wandering how long it would take to re-forest the barren hills instead of trampling the fragile earth with our designer walking boots.


Christmas is coming and the goose is getting fat Soon we will be thinking of Christmas. The Christmas trees are already growing and will be ready for harvest, to adorn with decorations and take pride of place in our home for a few weeks. When the feasting is over they will be dumped in country lanes or tossed aside like the unwanted puppy. Why don't we care for these trees that have been tended for so long? Purchased with their roots intact, placed in a pot and kept moist over Christmas they could easily be re-planted, so that in time we could visit our Christmases past with pride knowing that they will remain long after we have perished.

THE MEDIA
should now realise that this is quite within their grasp to make this happen. All it would take is a small announcement and who knows where it will lead us? It has been known for sometime that violence can be linked to the viewing of violence on t.v. There is nothing to say that the reverse will not happen when viewing hope on our screens.
The press should also realise that in order to print future editions,
guarantees must be fixed in place now to ensure that timber supplies are to be available into the next century. A commitment by Europe to replace it's forgotten forests may go a long way to show by example, the futility in the constant destruction of our environment. Or perhaps by replacing our own forests we may reduce the demands imposed on the last remaining tropical
rainforest in the developing world. "Please find it in your hearts to give it a try this year.

The vision

I can see school projects springing up everywhere around the World, cultivating saplings and organising school trips to the peoples new forest! In Britain we could visit the Dartmoor New peoples forest. Now that would be something to be proud of.
Instead of a paper-chase, (a race where paper is left in a trail for others to follow), we could leave a trail of tree seeds and instead of picking up paper we could tread the seeds into the soil and leave a trail of trees behind us. Remember though, not everyone is interested in our environment, so be sure to gain permission before planting trees in sensitive areas. The human race (which incidentally is being lost), has an in-built fear of the forest and its darkness. Perhaps it is for this reason that we are reluctant to allow its natural regeneration? Or perhaps we still hold the miss-conception that greater profits are achieved by exporting live
horseflesh. Or perhaps hunting down stags in plus fours and high-powered rifle is easier without the foliage for them to hide in?

The last fifty years or so have left nothing but devastation for our
environment. It need not be this way. All it will take is a little
understanding that a few seeds will make our world a better place for all our children. It may yet even redeem us from going down in history as the most destructive species of all time.
What can I do to help? First and foremost, the next time you see a native tree full of seeds grab a handful and give Mother Nature a helping hand. God knows she needs it now more than ever before, (try not to plant damaged seeds). You may edit and use this message to encourage the planting of trees. If you are from another part of the world, translate, edit and reproduce this message to suit your native species of trees. Or simply print it and photocopy it. Distribute it by including it in your web page, or Email it to everyone you write to. Ask your school to locate some land and plant a woodland reserve. Ask your local press, television and radio if they can help to locate land and spread the word.
If you know of or are a member of an environmental organisation, contact them and ask them to join us. The first such group to join is Surf To Save in Cornwall.
"A Pocket Full Of Acorns is limited only by your imagination and other than a few stamps and the odd photocopy will not cost you a penny. However if you do not wish to take part in this project, then simply recycle this leaflet by giving it to someone else, or pin it up on a school notice board, or place it in a shop window. Please don't throw our planet away, it could literally cost us the Earth!

Initial endorsements by the Devon Tree Bank, The World Conservation Union,
and the Forestry Commission.
Andrew Fletcher, 26 Berry Drive, Paignton, Devon, TQ3 3QW.From the
Originator of OASIS Irrigation

I have helped to plant millions of trees in the UK using A Pocket Full of Acorns project, and many more by inspiring people from all over the world to plant trees, if only to reduce the distances they have to walk to gather fuel for fires.
Trees are a vital part of our lives, take them away and mudslides will wipe out many thousands of people, far more than would be killed by the odd falling tree/branch. Remove trees from the coastline, and the rains will undoubtedly fail. Precisely why East Anglia receives half the yearly rainfall of Jerusalem, and precisely why East Anglia’s soils are so impoverished.

It has long been known that the removal of trees causes a knock on effect with the weather. This is because trees seed the surrounding air with moisture, and cause low pressure as the air cools with the water in it. This literally pulls the clouds from the sky, causing it to rain. An island covered in mangrove forest, off the coast of India, had its forest removed for fuel. Within 7 years, it was turned completely to desert, littered with dead cattle!

Indonesia have just torched their forests, lets see what happens over there in our lifetime.

The USA removed forest along its coastline, and guess what, they get forest fires, because the moisture from the clouds, cannot cross over the thermal wall, rising from its naked coastline. And clouds get channelled with regularity along the coast to somewhere, where there is tree and plant cover, right up to the sea. I have observed this many many times and even filmed it down here in Torbay, where the huge belts of mist hang around the coastline on sunny days, unable to cross over, except for 1 point near the Gas towers, where the woods practically reach the beach. Furthermore, when the mist clears from the coastline, it remains for a considerable period of some 4-5 hours and more, hugging the woodland as if it has been sucked out of the sky by some giant vacuum.

Given that 1 large mature oak in favourable whether conditions can evaporate over a hundred gallons of water into the air per day.The loss of as little as 10 of these trees will undoubtedly have an impact on the local area’s weather.

Bristol for example emits a huge amount of moisture from cooling towers and industry. Is it a coincidence that it always rains in Bristol, even when there has been no rain anywhere else it rains here. When in East Anglia, the opposite happens!

Precisely why it rains in Torbay when the holiday season peaks. Cars release many tens of thousands of gallons of water into the air as they drive along, patrolling the South West coastline like a stamped upon ant nest. But what is little understood, is that these cars have replaced the function of seeding from the trees with warm water laden exhausts.

As the warm saturated water rises in the thermal current, it is cooled, causing a drop in pressure, and cooled more so at night. The hanging moisture from the sea is then drawn in, and down comes the rain. So I guess even cars have their uses towards cooling the planet and may not be contributing to global warming as much as we are led to believe.

Perhaps global warming is just evidence for the removal of forests? Perhaps the greenhouse effect, is merely a result of the returned heat from the ever-expanding deserts, caused by the stupidity of people that cut down trees?

HERALD EXPRESS November 8 1994
SEED SUCCESS BRINGS GLOBAL BRANCH-OUT
Oak trees will be lining a Churston road thanks to the planting of 4,000 acorns and saplings by local volunteers. The mass planting along the four mile length of Kennals Road was the idea of ‘A Pocket Full Of Acorns’ organiser, Andrew Fletcher.
But he was disappointed that no representatives of the environmental groups he invited turned up. Mr Fletcher set up A Pocket Full Of Acorns ten weeks ago after hearing the story of the old French shepherd.
Each day the shepherd attended his flock, he carried with him a pocket full of acorns, planting them across the mountain side as he went. From this daily exercise a mighty forest grew. Mr Fletcher said: “It’s such a simple way of giving nature a hand. There is nothing cheaper than collecting a pocket full of seeds and planting them.”
His plan to plant out Kennals Road with local oaks had the backing of Torbay Borough Council. But invited conservation group representatives failed to appear.
Planting success
“All they had to do was to come along, poke a few holes in the ground with a stick and then drop an acorn in,” He said. Nevertheless buoyed by the planting success and an earlier one at Tebbit Copse on Telegraph Hill, Mr Fletcher is taking his green message around The Globe.
Mr Fletcher said: “With the destruction of the forests in the Third World and the increasing distances that people, mostly women, must walk to collect water and fire wood for cooking and warmth, it would be so easy to pick a handful of tree seeds and plant them on the way back to their villages.”
Recent meetings with representatives from the Pakistan and Saudi Arabian Embassies were very favourably received, he said.

‘A Pocket Full Of Acorns’ Another project from OASIS.
‘A Pocket Full Of Acorns’
Another project from OASIS. Trees are disappearing faster in the UK than in the Amazon. How can we lecture the Brazilians on saving their forests when we do not practice what we preach.
During the first world war a soldier was baffled when he observed a shepherd continually stooping as he walked and tended his flock near an oak forest. Investigation revealed he was planting acorns and he and his family were responsible for planting the oak forest over generations. Such sustainable agriculture must be applauded.
Each time we visit the moors here in the UK we are revelling in barren wastelands that we proudly call our national parks, and we should remember that these where once great forests, teeming with wildlife. Our ancestors used fire in order to drive out the animals and kill them in comfort, with no regard for the long term situation. Native Australians have burned their land into a massive desert and this strange custom is still implemented today, and can be seen in practice on our own moor lands.
A Pocket Full Of Acorns is seeking to extend from Devon into Cornwall, and is looking for anyone who has areas of land, large or small, who wish to use it to plant native trees. Unused areas of land or industrial premises on farms or small holdings, or even your own back yard are ideal.
If you wish to join the “Pocket Full Of Acorns Project”, come and see the “OASIS” Stall at Surf To Save.

A little girl named Sula talks to Devon News crew about planting trees for the future and shows how simple it is to make a huge difference.

Millions of trees are felled each year and all it takes to replace them is a pocket full of acorns and a little effort to give nature a helping hand.

www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/index.php?topic=2686.0

The above link is a discussion about tree planting using seeds and saplings gathered by the public to create forests.

Andrew

N C A September 1994

OASIS PROJECT

Featured last year was Andrew Fletcher’s brainchild to transport raw-sewage in empty returning oil tankers, to help reclaim desert and arid areas in The Gulf and North Africa. Gathering support for the scheme, The E.U. Commission now have it on file and are studying the implications, and with the U.N. Development Programme acknowledging it—although at present they say they have no plans to reclaim deserts. (Their main concern is sustainable development of natural resources in dry-land areas).

Many Gulf and North African Countries have been approached. The Kuwaiti Government are the most responsive and Andrew is set to visit there later this year to discuss the project in more detail.

M.E.P.A the Marine Environmental Protection Agency formed in 1991 for marine vessels is now fully supporting OASIS and using it’s connections to link in the Oil Tankers to the project.

‘A Pocket Full Of Acorns’

Another project from OASIS. Trees are disappearing faster in the UK than in the Amazon. How can we lecture the Brazilians on saving their forests when we do not practice what we preach.

During the first world war a soldier was baffled when he observed a shepherd continually stooping as he walked and tended his flock near an oak forest. Investigation revealed he was planting acorns and he and his family were responsible for planting the oak forest over generations. Such sustainable agriculture must be applauded.

Each time we visit the moors here in the UK we are revelling in barren wastelands that we proudly call our national parks, and we should remember that these where once great forests, teeming with wildlife. Our ancestors used fire in order to drive out the animals and kill them in comfort, with no regard for the long term situation. Native Australians have burned their land into a massive desert and this strange custom is still implemented today, and can be seen in practice on our own moor lands.

A Pocket Full Of Acorns is seeking to extend from Devon into Cornwall, and is looking for anyone who has areas of land, large or small, who wish to use it to plant native trees. Unused areas of land or industrial premises on farms or small holdings, or even your own back yard are ideal.

If you wish to join the “Pocket Full Of Acorns Project”, come and see the “OASIS” Stall at Surf To Save.