Hedging shelters outdoor gym

Speaker 1: Hi, good morning, my name is Mary Hardwick and I'm the director of Inspire2tri. And I built Inspire2tri. I applied for a free tree pack because we've got a brilliant little hedge down here that shields our disability and older adult activity area. But it’s a little bit exposed for them and we needed something else for them to take interest in. And we thought what a brilliant idea. Let's have a hedge, let’s watch it grow. And when it’s grown up it will serve a purpose - giving us a little bit more shelter when the weather is not quite as good.

Speaker 2: Any kind of planting of hedges is always going to be to be beneficial whether that’s here or anywhere else in the UK. So many of our hedges have been taken out. I think it’s refreshing to see there’s been some replacing going on here. I think it's admirable. I would say to anybody thinking of applying for this - go for it!

Speaker 3: A lot of people exercise outside and that’s the unique factor of the Rainbow Trail. But I think the wildlife that are brought in adds to the environment they are exercising in. It makes it more pleasant. It’s something for people to look at. And obviously planting a hedge is going to bring a lot more wildlife into that outdoor gym.

Speaker 4: I think if anybody is thinking about the free trees scheme. I think it’s a wonderful opportunity. It's great to bring a bit of nature back into everything. It’s just something beautiful - to watch it grow.

Speaker 5: Every tree makes a difference. And to have another 60 along here. I mean it just adds to the beauty and the environment and life. It’s wonderful.

Speaker 1: I would absolutely recommend the free trees scheme. Based on the experience I had. It’s absolutely brilliant. It was done quickly, the trees were great when they arrived. It was all very exciting and I think if you are interested in growing trees, growing hedges, it's such a great way to do it. Especially for someone like us because we’re a community interest company. We’re not for profit. So, it was fantastic to be able to get trees because we can plant them ourselves. But it would have have been quite a tall order to have got the trees and paid for them ourselves.