New Woodland Planted in Weymouth

In an attempt to attract and support wildlife, a new woodland has been planted in Dorset. More than 500 native trees have been planted at Horselynch Plantation by 120 school children and local people.

By planting these trees, it is hoped that it will attract wildlife species such as rare bats, green and great spotted woodpeckers and speckled wood butterflies.

The oak, ash, hornbeam beech and hazel trees have all been added to compensate for habitat which was lost due to the construction of the Weymouth Relief Road.

The land brought by the Dorset County Council will become part of the Dorset Wildlife Trust’s adjacent Lorton Meadows Nature Reserve.

The conservation officers of Dorset’s Wildlife Trust, Samantha Dallimore, said “I was amazed by the number of local people that turned up to plant trees.”

“It gives people pride in their local green space. The trees should look great in about 10 years’ time, and the area should look like a fledgling woodland in about 20 years.”

A further 1,000 trees are set to be planted on the land, which spans about 1 sq km, in the new year.

This project has been funded by the Big Lottery Fund through Natural England’s Access to Nature programme.

Special thanks to the BBC for the above image.