Lambourn Environmental Group plants 500 trees

LAMBOURN Environmental Group has completed an ambitious project to plant more than 500 trees in the village.

The group was formed last May with the aim of increasing local tree cover to help to alleviate climate change and increase biodiversity.

Last November, members took delivery of 420 saplings, stakes and tree guards donated by The Woodland Trust.

A further 100 saplings were provided by Lambourn WI in celebration of their centenary last year.

The saplings, or whips, were kept frost-free and nurtured by the Prendergast family, who were advised by Susan Millington of the West Berkshire Lockdown Woods project.

Around 40 village volunteers recently gave up their time to plant them on Sheepdrove Field off Wantage Road, on land provided by the Kindersley family who run Sheepdrove Organic Farm.

A spokeswoman for the group, Penny Brewer, said that, since then, volunteers have planted a further 30 trees provided by West Berkshire Council as part of the Queen's Green Canopy initiative.

She added: "Even having had the holes pre dug it was still a full morning's work for the 16 village volunteers.

"Mike Barker from Sheepdrove Farm was invaluable."

In addition, the group has planted eight flowering cherry trees, as part of a national Blossom in Spring initiative, near Northfield Terrace.

Ms brewer said: "They will need to be tended over the next few years and watered if there are prolonged periods of dry weather.

"They should make a wonderful display each Spring as a memorial to those who died from Covid."