Volunteers create new pocket woodlands in Bullands Field
Putting the planet first took top priority for volunteers in Bovey Tracey on Saturday [January 18] when they gave up their morning to plant native trees by the river in Bullands Field.
This was a real partnership project. Bullands Field is owned by Bovey Tracey Town Council who supported the project. The initial idea came from Friends of Mill Marsh Park who then co-ordinated the project with input from Climate Action: Bovey & Heathfield. The group were given the whips by Devon Wildlife Trust and their Saving Devon’s Treescapes scheme. Ben Reynolds, horticulturalist and garden designer, gave a demonstration of planting, staking and mulching the tiny trees.
The actual planting was done by volunteers, ranging in age from small children to grandparents, who all shared a wish to support nature and create spaces for wildlife. All of us, especially the children, were keen and we all dug and mulched with enthusiasm – it was good to get our hands dirty and feel we were doing something for the planet, rather than, as one volunteer put it, ‘ just being bystanders. Now when we come on our walks we can say, ah, those are the trees we planted all those years ago and see how much they’ve grown.’
As a result of our volunteers’ efforts two woodland corners where the grass will also grow long have been created. Species included crab apple, hawthorn, silver birch, goat willow, wild cherry, dogwood and field maple. As Ben said: ‘There are lots of reasons to plant trees such as supporting wildlife, carbon capture, preventing soil erosion and flood prevention.
‘This is making a difference.’
For more information email sue.simmons@boveytracey.gov.uk
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