| Dorset is looking greener than ever for wildlife and future generations of nature lovers as Weymouth has now gained a woodland containing 500 new trees. The young native trees have been planted by volunteers, school children and local wildlife lovers with the help of Dorset Wildlife Trust and Dorset Countryside.
Wildlife lovers of all ages turned up to the highly successful community tree planting volunteering day held on December 3rd 2011. A total of 60 volunteers planted 250 native trees in record time to create a new woodland for future generations of people and wildlife to enjoy. During the previous week 120 school children from local primary schools St Nicholas & St Laurence, St Andrews & Bincombe Valley planted the first 250 trees. This new woodland is expected to support wildlife species such as rare noctule bats, green and great spotted woodpeckers and speckled wood butterflies
Helping valuable wildlife habitat and taking pride in green space
The 500 native trees, including oak, ash, hornbeam beech and hazel, have been added to Horselynch Plantation, part of the Environmental Mitigation Area (EMA) - land purchased by Dorset County Council to compensate for habitat lost to construction of the Weymouth Relief Road. The EMA will in future become part of the Dorset Wildlife Trusts adjacent Lorton Meadows Nature Reserve, securing the entire valley for wildlife and recreation.
Samantha Dallimore, Community Conservation Officer for Dorset Wildlife Trust, said; “I was amazed by the number of local people that turned up to plant trees, many families, some people just walking their dogs who felt compelled to join in and children that had been involved earlier in the week brought their parents back to have a go. It truly was a community event that not only provides valuable wildlife habitat, but also created a sense of achievement and gives people pride in their local green space. We had a fantastic day and are hoping to repeat the event in the New Year!”
Partnerships that help conserve our natural environment
These Community Tree Planting events are made available to everyone by Wild About Weymouth and Portland, a partnership between Dorset Wildlife Trust, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Dorset Countryside and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council. The project is funded by the Big Lottery Fund through Natural England’s Access to Nature programme, to encourage people to discover, enjoy and help conserve the borough’s wonderful natural environment.
The next Community Tree Planting event will take place on Saturday 21st January, 10am till 3pm at the northern end of Horselynch Plantation, known locally as Teddy Bear Woods (SY684824). No experience is needed, as advice will be given and all equipment, including tools, gloves and trees, will be provided. The nearest parking will be on Louviers Road, near Top Club, Littlemoor, Weymouth. Follow the arrows to the planting site. Alternatively the site can be accessed on foot from Southdown Avenue, follow the footpath to Lodmoor/Southdown fields and up the hill towards Littlemoor. For more information please contact Samantha Dallimore on sdallimore@dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk or call 01305 816546.
-ENDS
Notes to Editor
1. For more information please contact Samantha Dallimore at Dorset Wildlife Trust on 01305 816546.
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Wild About Weymouth and Portland is a partnership project, funded by the Big Lottery Fund through Natural England’s Access to Nature programme, involving Dorset Wildlife Trust, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Dorset Countryside (DCC) and Weymouth and Portland Borough Council. The project aims to improve access in and between important wildlife sites in the borough and encourage local people and visitors to discover, enjoy and help conserve the wonderful natural environment of Weymouth and Portland.
Additional funding has been provided by Portland Gas Trust and the AONB.
2. Access to Nature is run by Natural England and is part of the The Big Lottery Fund’s
Changing Spaces programme launched in November 2005 to help communities enjoy and
improve their local environments.
3. Natural England manages this £28.75 million Lottery-funded programme on behalf
of a consortium of twelve national environmental organisations comprising BTCV,
British Waterways, Environment Agency, Forestry Commission, Greenspace,
Groundwork UK, Land Restoration Trust, The National Trust, Natural England,
RSPB, the Wildlife Trusts and the Woodland Trust.
4. Through this programme, it is Natural England’s ambition to create opportunities
for people from all backgrounds to have greater access to our natural environment
and bring a lasting change to their awareness and understanding as well as
improved links to the natural world, which many of us can take for granted.
5. Access to Nature closed to applications in May 2010 but for further information
about the programme visit www.naturalengland.org.uk/accesstonature
6. The Big Lottery Fund is the largest of the National Lottery good cause distributors and has been rolling out grants to health, education, environment and charitable causes across the UK since its inception in June 2004.For further information about the Big Lottery Fund, its programmes and awards visit www.biglotteryfund.org.uk
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Tree Planters - John Clode
Woodland Planters - John Clode
Lorton Leaves - Dorset Wildlife Trust
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