5,000 trees planted at West Dorset's Golden Cap
The National Trust has had help from volunteers to get them in place
Two new hedgerows, comprised of 5,000 trees, have been planted at West Dorset's Golden Cap estate.
Once they've bedded in, the hedges will provide wildlife corridors, absorb carbon and be a food source for birds, mammals and insects.
The trees have been put in place by National Trust staff and volunteers, thanks to a legacy donation from a man named Paul and funding from the Farming in Protected Landscapes (FiPL) project.
Claire Sissons, Countryside Ranger and Project Manager, said:
"We have been planning this new hedge since April 2023, so it was amazing to finally see all the wonderful trees going in the ground. We planted a mixture of Hawthorn, Crab-apple, Dog Rose, Field Maple, Dog Wood and Hazel; together these trees will make the most incredible hedge which will provide food, protection and homes to the wildlife which live here.
"I want to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers involved in this project, including the Great Big Dorset Hedge Project, Dorset Countryside Volunteers, National Trust volunteers, our donor, FiPL and anyone who just turned up on the day of planting and started to help. It was hard work planting all these trees at this time of year and we couldn’t have done it without volunteer help."
The hedgerow species have also been chosen for their spring blossom displays, which we're told will eventually by visible from Eype and the South West Coast Path.