Tree planting blossoms across countryside sites

The past autumn and winter tree planting season has revealed a tree-mendous display of community spirit, where Somerset Council and local volunteers have joined forces to plant over 1,400 trees across three of our county’s picturesque countryside sites. From Ham Hill to Yeovil Country Park and Chard Reservoir Local Nature Reserve, these efforts promise to enhance biodiversity, create vital habitats, and contribute to a greener future.

Yeovil Country Park: A symphony of native trees

Somerset Council staffplanting native trees at Yeovil Country park

A recent Somerset Council staff volunteer day, saw a mixture of native trees planted, which will increase biodiversity in a 40-year-old mixed plantation at Riverside Walk. The newly planted native trees including hawthorn and hazel will create a shrub layer providing more nesting opportunities for birds and pollen sources for a variety of insects. Our regular team of country park volunteers also helped our rangers to plant rowan and wild cherry to replace some of the diseased ash trees that have had to be felled for safety reasons, as well as a mix of native species to replace non-native laurel in Ninesprings and on Penn Hill to thicken an existing hedgerow. Over six hundred trees have been planted in total by more than thirty volunteers at Yeovil Country Park already this year.

Ham Hill: A biodiversity boost for Pit Wood

Around four hundred new trees, including hazel, spindle, rowan, wild service, hawthorn, and field maple, now thrive in Pit Wood at Ham Hill. Thirty volunteers from the local community joined our rangers to increase this sycamore-dominated woodland and give it a biodiversity boost! The mix of species improves the shrub layer, creating extra nesting sites and abundant pollen sources for insects, birds, and small mammals, including rare dormice, which are thriving on Ham Hill.

Chard Reservoir: New natural corridor to connect nature

Eight enthusiastic volunteers helped to plant three hundred trees including spindle, hawthorn, blackthorn, elder, field maple, rowan in hedgerows to improve habitat connectivity. The hedge has been planted alongside an old, dilapidated fence, which will be removed once the hedge has matured, allowing a natural, biodiverse barrier to remain, with reduced maintenance costs and increased habitat for small mammals, birds, and insects.

Volunteers planting a new hedge at Chard Local Nature Reserve

Countryside Ranger Agi Szego said: “We have had a wonderful season tree planting with our volunteers this year. It is one of the most satisfying jobs that we do, as we are making a real difference to the woodland habitats that we look after. Removing invasive, non-native trees and re-planting with native species will not only improve carbon capture to help combat climate change but also help to make our environment more resilient to changes in the future, while increasing biodiversity.”

Special thanks to everyone involved, including the Friends of Yeovil Country Park, Friends of Ham Hill and Chard Reservoir Volunteer Group, Somerset Council staff volunteers and members of the local communities. And to those who donated trees from The Conservation Volunteers (TCV), The Woodland Trust and generous individuals.

You can also get involved and plant trees for the future of your community. The Woodland Trust offers Free Trees for Schools and Communities - Woodland Trust, encouraging tree planting and contributing to wildlife conservation.