Tree planting to remember those lost during Covid

The woodland will "stand as a symbol of hope and remembrance", the council said

A council is marking five years since the Covid pandemic by planting trees in a woodland.

Wokingham Borough Council said it planned to plant more than 6,700 trees across the 7.7-hectare plot, which lies immediately north of California Country Park.

The council said the Covid Memorial Wood "will become a lasting tribute to those we lost during the coronavirus pandemic".

The authority is encouraging residents to join the community in planting trees to "support this meaningful cause" between 19 and 22 March.

The project, supported by the Woodland Trust's Emergency Tree Fund, is part of an ongoing effort to plant trees across the borough to tackle the climate emergency.

The woodland will feature a mix of British and UK-sourced and grown stock.

It will consist of 17 different species suitable for the site conditions, including field maple, hornbeam, hazel, holly, wild cherry, and English oak, among others.

Wildflower seeding takes place later this spring and summer.

Additionally, the council plans to create footpaths to help residents visit the woodland.

The council said: "The woodland will serve as a lasting memorial for many generations, while also helping increase biodiversity in the borough."

"This is a great opportunity to give back to the community and contribute to tackling the climate emergency."