Tree planting efforts at the Woodland Trust’s Heartwood Forest got off to a sterling start in the New Year with over 300 locals turning up and planting over 7,000 trees between them at a community planting day on Saturday January 30th.
The site has now been filled with around 40,000 trees in just two months, all planted by willing volunteers, with a further 600,000 to go in the ground in the next ten years. The trees are all native broadleaved species, including oak, ash, hazel, hawthorn, rowan, holly and wild cherry.
The 850 acre site will become the largest new native woodland in the UK, with every tree being planted by a volunteer. People can also sponsor a tree on the site for just £15, half an acre for £5,000 and a whole acre for £10,000.
Heartwood Officer Louise Neicho added: “This is the first of many chances this year for people to come along and be part of this once-in-a-lifetime project. We’ve got schools planting this month and next, not to mention more community plantings, guided walks and many other exciting things lined up.”
Over 1000 people have already been involved in plantings since the end of last year, including schools, cadets, scouts and even staff from companies such as General Motors and Sainsbury’s. With around 250,000 people and 1500 schools within a 15 mile radius the Trust is extending an invite to everyone to get involved in a real feel-good project.
Staff from Disney Stores UK will be onsite on February 28th to plant the first trees in their 50 acre Magical Wood. Further public planting days will also take palce on February 14th and March 21st.
For information about upcoming events on site visit www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/heartwood
Notes to editors
For media enquiries contact:
The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, email: media@woodlandtrust.org.uk
The Woodland Trust:
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters.
The Trust has three key aims: i) to enable the creation of more native woods and places rich in trees ii) to protect native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future iii) to inspire everyone to enjoy and value woods and trees
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). Access to its sites is free.