Over 275,000 trees have been planted in Worcestershire and Warwickshire as part of successful three-year project to benefit the environment and local communities.
The woodland charity Heart of England Forest, in partnership with Wychavon, Stratford-on-Avon and Warwick District Councils started the ambitious Trees Call to Action Project in 2022.
The aim was to provide vital advice and support for all aspects of tree planting and maintenance, as well as raising awareness of the benefit of trees in communities throughout the region.
The Heart of England Forest marked the project’s completion with an event at Gorcott Hill, near Redditch, to celebrate this achievement with over 30 partners, members of local communities, and landowners.
At the celebration event, a small, new woodland was planted before visitors shared their reflections on the achievements and successes of the project. To finish a performance from theatre company ‘Half a String’, helped the audience find the epic in the tiny – from the perspective of an acorn.
Heart of England Forest chief executive Andy Parsons, said: “We were given a grant of £499,446 from the Trees Call to Action Fund to enable us to work together with the district councils on a three-year project to support and plant trees across our local landscape and community spaces.
“Increasing tree cover is vital to help address the climate and biodiversity emergencies, since a lack of trees and woodland impacts negatively on nature, people’s health, and the environment.
“Thanks to the project, more people in our communities across the region will have greater access to trees to feel more connected with nature which, as we found out during Covid, is really important for everyone’s wellbeing.
“This collaboration with communities and landowners involved organising hedge laying and orchard maintenance training for volunteers, so there is a further legacy element to the project.
“To have planted over 275,000 trees is a significant achievement, made possible by working in partnership with Stratford-on-Avon, Warwick, and Wychavon District Councils to amplify action and engagement across the region. My thanks go to everyone who was involved.”
The money for the project was provided by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs in partnership with the Forestry Commission and distributed the Heritage Fund throughout the country.
