Four thousand people help hit tree planting target

2 hours ago

Danielle HuntGloucestershire

News image — The trees have been planted at Westonbirt as part of a three-year project

Alison Whaley In the foreground are the backs of three children, a boy and two girls, in casual sportswear. They are standing watching a woman knelt down in the background, on grassy ground, tending to a sapling just planted into the ground. The woman is wearing a long sleeve black t-shirt, with a short sleeve green Forestry England branded polo top over the top of the t-shirt. She is wearing black trousers, blue gardening gloves, and she has brown hair tied up and is wearing glasses. It's sunny. — The trees have been planted at Westonbirt as part of a three-year project

Nine thousand trees have now been planted by more than 50 community groups, schools and colleges in a three-year project.

The mass planting at Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire is part of efforts to restore three hectares (7.4 acres) of ancient woodland that was devastated by ash dieback, a fungal disease that kills ash trees.

In total, more than 4,000 people have so far taken part in the Silk Wood Community Planting Project from community groups, schools and colleges.

Project manager Oscar Adams said: "Watching groups come back each year and care for their growing trees has been incredibly rewarding."

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Alison Whaley A woman in a wheelchair helps a man wearing a high vis jacket and sunglasses to plant a tree. The man is digging a hole as the woman holds a sapling. Another man is stood next to her, speaking to them. — Native or near native species have been planted alongside species adapted to warmer, drier climates

Mrs Brunet-Lua, a teacher at Cam Everlands Primary School, said: "It is so beneficial for our children to be involved in a community project outside our school community, that will carry on for years after they leave our school.

"We have enjoyed watching the area develop and cannot wait to watch the saplings grow."

Westonbirt Arboretum said the scale of the current planting scheme is the largest for many years.

Lots of the new saplings are native or near native species, including oaks, small leaved-lime and field maple.

More exotic species that are adapted to warmer, drier climates, such as Italian alder, have also been planted.

Adams, said it has been "about far more than getting trees in the ground."

"It's been about giving people from all walks of life the opportunity to learn new skills, get outside and feel part of the future of this woodland."

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