On Saturday 8th March members of the Rural Team from Salisbury Plain hosted an informal community tree planting event in Bratton village.
A small MOD-owned area of derelict woodland had been cleared last summer; around 60 trees had been vandalised – bark stripped, partly chopped down or set on fire- and were so badly damaged they had to be felled.
Replanting was needed but vandalism was still a threat. So it presented the opportunity to engage the local community in planting the new woodland to instil a sense of ownership and hopefully reduce the incidence of damage in the future.
A colourful mixture of native species was chosen, including Wild Cherry, Crab Apple, Rowan & Spindleberry.
The event which was advertised on village posters and in the Parish Newsletter attracted upto 20 volunteers who were lucky enough to have a day of sunshine. Among the first to volunteer were a group of 6 children. By 1pm all 150 trees & shrubs had been planted and many volunteers wrote their names on the tree tubes so they knew which ones they had planted.
Landmarc will continue to maintain the woodland but with the support of the community it should flourish and be something they can be proud of for many years to come.
