Biodiversity in Brightlingsea is on the up thanks to a hedge-planting initiative by the Brightlingsea Nature Network and the town council.
The aim is to plant a community hedge every spring and autumn, and the latest effort – which saw over 50 local residents plant 420 saplings along Morses Lane – was completed in time for National Tree Week at the end of November.
As the saplings – including hawthorn, blackthorn, wild cherry, hazel, goat willow, rowan and crab apple – arrived at the start of Lockdown 2, some creative thinking was required to ensure they could planted without breaking lockdown rules. The Nature Network set up a system that meant volunteers could book a timed planting slot, and then were able to collect their saplings from a local doorstep along with a map of the site and planting instructions.
The trees were donated through The Woodland Trust’s free trees for schools and communities scheme which aims to “get millions more trees into the ground and make sure everybody in the UK has the chance to plant a tree”. Local farmer Andrew Farley donated composted manure, while the saplings were protected by guards from the Woodland Trust. Eastern Waste Disposal has also supported the initiative.
The Brightlingsea Nature Network will be planting another hedge through The Woodland Trust scheme in March 2021 – see the group’s Facebook page for further information.
