Thousands of trees planted for new woodland

Volunteers are planting trees in the Silk Wood area of the arboretum

Thousands of trees have been planted in a new community woodland to replace trees lost to ash dieback.

More than 3,300 trees have been planted at Westonbirt Arboretum near Tetbury in Gloucestershire thanks to 600 people from eight schools, one university, six youth groups and 107 volunteers.

The Silk Wood Community Planting Project aims to combat the loss of trees after a mass tree felling in 2021 due to Chalara ash dieback - a fungal disease that kills ash trees.

Oscar Adams, project manager at Westonbirt said: "We’re inviting community groups back again throughout the year to help us care for the young trees they helped us plant."

More than 3,000 trees have been planted in the silk wood area of the arboretum

Mr Adams said he was delighted so many trees had been planted in the first planting season of the three year project.

The scheme is targeting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds, those with neurodiversity and people from a broad range of ethnicities to be part of this journey.

In March 70 pupils from Cam Everlands Primary School helped to plant the new trees and came up with the design for the woodland.

"Involving so many young people in the project is giving us the chance to inspire and excite them about trees, woodland management, and heritage conservation - securing the future for Westonbirt Arboretum," Mr Adams said.

Native species such as field maple, small-leaved lime, pedunculate oak, hawthorn, alder and holly were planted on 32 planting days between November 2023 and March.

Project managers are aiming is to plant at least 9,000 trees in total within the Silk Wood area of the arboretum.

Westonbirt has received £249,359 from the National Lottery for the project and £100,8600 from other charities.