Sussex and Hampshire to have 100,000 trees planted

More than £230,000 has been raised to plant trees in schools, farms, recreation grounds and historic parks

About 100,000 trees will be planted across Sussex and Hampshire this winter, the National Park Authority has announced.

As part of the scheme to help disease-hit woodlands flourish, the South Downs National Park will have 23,000 new trees.

“Our tree-scape supports a wealth of wildlife, from rare insects to nesting birds and complex fungi," said Nick Heasman, a countryside and policy manager for the park.

Research from the Woodland Trust shows that one third of all woodland species in the UK are in decline and one in 10 is at risk of extinction.

The newly planted trees will replace plants lost to pests and diseases such as ash dieback and Dutch elm disease.

A single mature tree produces enough oxygen in a year to sustain 10 people, Mr Heasman said.

He said trees were under "unprecedented threat" from pests and diseases, as well as climate change.

Increasing the number and diversity of our native trees would be a big help, Mr Heasman added.

'A lovely opportunity to bring everyone together'

A batch of trees will soon be delivered to Woodingdean, near Brighton.

“We’ll be involving our community in a planting event to help plant out the 1,000 native deciduous trees in December," said Clare Millett Hopkins, chairwoman of Woodingdean Wilderness Group.

“It is a lovely opportunity to bring everyone together," she added.

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