Community wildlife group and schoolpupils help enhance Hinstock local habitat
A local community has been busily planting 400 metres of native species-rich hedgerow around Hinstock, as part of Shropshire Council’s “Your Natural Heritage” project. This LEADER-funded project is bringing communities together to map local wildlife habitats and conserve Shropshire’s natural landscape. Participating groups can access funds to improve and enhance local wildlife areas.
The hedgerows were planted by Shropshire Wildlife Trust’s Market Drayton group and the Hinstock Village Initiative at the Quarry Wood reserve and Hinstock Primary School. At the school pupils, staff and parents joined in to give a helping hand. The hedgerows contain locally-sourced Shropshire Damson trees, which locals will be able to harvest in the future. Later this year the community will be taking part in a workshop, where a local orchardist will be showing them how to care for the Shropshire Damson trees.
Planting materials for the project were provided through Shropshire Council’s Community Tree Scheme. Through this scheme, tens of thousands of young trees have been distributed around the county to farmers, landowners and community groups. The tree scheme receives generous sponsorship through Maelor Forest Nurseries, Whitchurch, and every year provides native tree and shrub saplings free of charge to benefit the Shropshire landscape.
Shropshire’s mature native trees and hedgerows, which contribute so much to our magnificent landscape, are an aging and vulnerable resource, with a third of our hedgerow trees being over 100 years old. So planting trees and hedgerows in our county is now more important than ever.
Cecilia Motley, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member with responsibility for carbon reduction and sustainability, and schools, said:
“Shropshire’s Community Tree scheme aims to attract people who are interested in helping to reverse the decline of our mature native trees, as well as help reduce Shropshire’s carbon footprint and provide the myriad of biodiversity, cultural, social and economic benefits that trees bring.
“It’s great to see groups like the Market Drayton Wildlife Trust Group actively involving local children to help shape and enhance our wonderful landscape. Planting is a great way to teach children about nature, and this project gets them actively involved in improving the environment of their schools. The hedgerows and trees they plant today will be a benefit for generations to come.”
The Market Drayton branch of Shropshire Wildlife Trust has been running for just over one year. The group meets every two months, with the next meeting planned for Wednesday 18 April 2012 at 7.30pm in The Red Lion pub in Market Drayton. The group welcomes new members. Those unable to attend the meeting can contact the branch secretary Roger Huyshe at roger.huyshe@btinternet.com for more details.
To find out more about the Community Tree Scheme or Your Natural Heritage project, please ring 01743 252543 or visit www.naturalshropshire.org.uk
Further information
Hedges that contain trees and a range of native woody species have greater biodiversity value. One of the woody species used in Hinstock will be maiden (1-2 year old) Shropshire Damson trees, which will be planted approximately every 15m. In between these trees there will be a mix of seven different woody species.
