Tree planting will be in full force throughout the county during National Tree Week in celebration of the Tree Council’s 30th Anniversary of their “plant a tree in ‘73” campaign.
National Tree Week 2003 is on from Wednesday 26th November until Sunday 7th December and Herefordshire Council Parks & Countryside Service will start Herefordshire’s planting on Monday 1st December with a total of 139 heavy standard trees, 65 shrubs and approximately 6000 saplings (whips) being planted across the county.
Colin Meneaud, Acting Parks Manager, said: “It’s still as important for us to plant trees now as it was 30 years ago when the Tree Council launched their first campaign.
“Trees, particularly those in the County’s towns are important as a visual amenity and for the habitat they provide for urban wildlife.
“I personally have been organising the planting of trees in Hereford City for many years and it is very rewarding to see a sapling grow into a healthy, beautiful adult tree.”
This is the best time of year to plant trees and where possible new ones will be planted to replace any hazardous trees that were removed earlier in the year and those that have been vandalised.
In Hereford a significant planting will happen on the Belmont Estate under guidance of local Tree Warden Brian Hubbard.
Fifteen heavy standard trees will be planted at various locations around the estate and other shrubs and whips will be planted to form a hedge at Stoneleigh Drive.
Also in the City, Countryside Ranger Tim Green will be working with pupils from Broadlands School to plant 40 saplings and create a ‘woodland corner’ in their school playing field, which adjoins Broadlands Local Nature Reserve.
A further planting scheme of 2000 saplings is planned for Aylestone Park on the 6thand 7th of December. The Aylestone Park Association is looking for volunteers to help plant the trees, for further information please contact Fran White on 01568 798320.
In Leominster several thousand native whips will be planted to form screen planting at Bridge Street Sports Park. Also at the site, trees in the Leominster Loop Tree Acrostic – planted last year to commemorate Leominster’s celebration of the Millennium, will be replaced. This is due to the vandalism of some of the original trees.
More follows
In Ledbury over 1000 whips and some native standard trees are being planted along a section of the Town Trail to provide landscaping after a ramp was installed as part of the ‘Safer Routes to Schools’ scheme, earlier this year.
A substantial number of oaks are also being replaced in Ledbury as the long dry summer led some of those planted during the Millennium to be unsuccessful.
In Bromyard scented shrubs will be planted in the entrance bed at Rowberry Street Car Park to provide fragrance and interest.
For more information on the planned planting schedule please contact the Herefordshire Council Parks & Countryside Service on 01568 798320.