Trees Company - Chew Valley Trees put roots down in the theatre

You may have noticed a leafy visitor has arrived at Bristol Old Vic!

This beautiful field maple is making the foyer its home for the run of The Beautiful Future is Coming and is the centrepiece of our audio installation which shares recorded messages from the young people of Bristol about the type of future they want to be part of.

It was important to us that the tree didn't have to travel far to be with us and that it was a native species. Luckily, Chew Valley Trees came to the rescue and have generously loaned us one of their collection.

We managed to drag Chew Valley Tree's director Simon Scarth away from his beautiful nursery for a five-minute chat about why he decided to help us out...

What's your earliest memory of Chew Valley Trees?

My earliest memory is playing in a sand pit with my sister on the nursery, while my mother and father worked on changing what was an old market garden full of dock and nettles into a seeding and transplant nursery. This would have been around 1986.

Did you ever want to do anything else or was the family business always something that you knew you were destined for?  

I definitely explored other interests growing up, but working at Chew Valley Trees from a young age I developed a deep love for trees that always pulled me back. Once I finished university it became clear that being part of the family business was where I was meant to be.

What do you think makes your nursery unique?

There are lots of things that make us unique, a couple that stand out are that we have over 40,000 trees on our nursery site.

People can visit to get inspiration and select their own trees. We also do a lot of production and some of the specimens have been in production with us for over 10 years, so we have expertise as growers that we can draw on to help with tree selections. 

Our next show is all about climate and sustainability – how important is that to your business to be environmentally responsible? 

Being environmentally responsible is absolutely central to our business at Chew Valley Trees. Using peat-free compost, generating our own renewable energy, relying on borehole water, and now moving into using recycled pots all reflect our long-term commitment to sustainability and protecting the natural world. It’s important to us that the way we grow our trees supports a healthier planet for future generations.

Why did you get involved with Bristol Old Vic’s project? And what type of tree are people going to see when they come to the theatre this month? 

We were excited to partner with Bristol Old Vic on this project, as it beautifully ties in with our passion for nature and sustainability. Visitors to the theatre this month will see a field maple—a lovely native species that supports local wildlife. Don’t worry, it won’t be damaged by the visit; we’ve made sure it’s well cared for and safely displayed.