Trees and hedgerows planted on island

One hundred trees and 200m (656ft) of nature-friendly hedgerow will be planted on the Isle of Wight after the local authority received funding.

The Isle of Wight Council successfully secured grant support from the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs through the Tree Council's Trees Outside Woodland Fund.

The trees and hedgerows will be planted predominantly in The Bay area.

Tony Gillingham, tree officer at the Isle of Wight Council, said: "As part of the council's commitment to enhancing biodiversity, this is a significant win."

The council said the sites were chosen "in order to connect wildlife corridors and provide canopy cover and shade in the future for the community".

Gillingham said: "This grant gives us a fantastic opportunity to make a real difference for nature, not just in the Bay area which is where we are focusing our efforts, but across three additional locations on the Island.

"Expanding tree canopies delivers multiple benefits: creating vital habitats and wildlife corridors, acting as carbon sinks, providing shade during hot summer months, and helping to slow floodwaters."

They will be planted in January and February and people who want to help are invited to join tree officers at the sites.

The Trees Outside Woodland Fund offers grants of up to £40,000 for local authorities and charities to grow trees on publicly accessible land.

Sara Lom, chief executive of The Tree Council, said: "Trees outside woodland are the trees we all come across most often – those in our parks, on our streets, and even the hedgerows that help capture carbon and act as heritage highways for a rich array of wildlife.

"We're delighted to be partnering with Defra to offer this additional Tree Council grant opportunity to benefit people, wildlife and our planet, and especially the Isle of Wight Council."

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