Keeping the Woodland Trust founder’s spirit alive
A massive tree planting programme is under way across the South Hams thanks to a partnership between the Woodland Trust and South Hams District Council.
More than 30,000 native trees will create 50 acres of new native woodland, planted under an innovative MOREwoods woodland creation programme from the Woodland Trust - funded by South Hams District Council.
Successful applications have come from large landowners, small farmers, a school, hotel and even a golf club. All will have their woodland planted free of charge.
Planting begins this week, with the prestigious Kitley House Hotel at Yealmpton among the first to see trees going into the ground with pockets of oak and ash, wild cherry, rowan, silver birch, field maple, hazel, hawthorn and guelder rose in the hotel’s parkland setting.
The planting programme is full of symbolism, for South Hams saw the birth of the Woodland Trust in 1972 thanks to the foresight of its founder Kenneth Watkins, who farmed at Hall Farm near Harford.
His desire to save threatened pockets of ancient woodland started with the purchase of Avon Wood (now part of Avon Valley Woods near Woodleigh), then threatened by clear-felling and re-planting with conifers.
The Woodland Trust, now the UK’s leading woodland charity with 1,000-plus publicly accessible woods, has now come full circle by planting fresh swathes of native woodland in Kenneth’s own beloved corner of Devon.
MOREwoods in Plymouth and South Hams is being funded by a grant from the council’s Langage Landscape Fund as part of a planning agreement negotiated by the council.
Proposals need to meet key criteria. New woodland should be within the vicinity of the Langage energy centre and either reduce the visual impact of the Langage power station, deliver community benefit or help the area adapt to climate change by linking biodiversity areas, explained Trust project manager Clare Ollerenshaw.
“We are very excited to see our first woods being planted and really appreciate the level of interest from local people,” she said. “It shows that people in South Devon really care about planting trees for the future and that the spirit of Ken Watkins lives on.”
The scheme is still open for applications and the district council is pleased with the level of response from landowners so far.
Cllr. Bryan Carson, Executive member for a distinct environment, said: “We have had a very positive response to the scheme with a lot of interest from landowners in the west of the district. The combination of advice, free woodland planting and subsequent management is very persuasive, and as a council we are delighted to see the a number of new woodland areas being created which will enhance the natural beauty of the South Hams for years to come.”
General Manager at Kitley House Hotel, Andrew Huckerby, sees the hotel’s two thousand new native trees as adding hugely to the hotel’s setting, wildlife habitat and guests’ enjoyment.
“We have a lovely setting and we want to increase the tree cover. We have specifically gone for trees that will encourage and feed birds and wildlife, with planting along the drive, near our car park and around the hotel gardens.”
For leaflet and details on how to apply for trees through the MOREwoods scheme, telephone 0845 293 5689, or email morewoodssouthhams@woodlandtrust.org.uk
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.