WESTBURY Lions have been busy planting 700 trees as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy – a community project set up during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee to increase and protect the native tree cover in the UK.
“Though various fundraising activities and a donation from the Westbury Area Board, we were able to work with Barters Farm to fund 700 indigenous British trees of nine varieties for the tribute, some to give blossom in the spring and others to give berries in the winter,” said the Lions. “The experts explained that it is better to plant in the autumn or winter months so that the trees have the best chance of thriving, so the weekend of 3rd and 4th December was chosen.
“As several of our annual events are held at the White Horse Country Park, we have a great relationship with the land owner, Derek Hulin, who agreed if we planted trees in the golf club vicinity and along the Bratton Road, his team would clear/prepare the site and tend/maintain them in the first three years.
“One of our members, Mike, contacted local organisations to pitch in on the day, and over the weekend the digging and planting took place. These trees can now be enjoyed by anyone who uses the popular track from Westbury to Bratton.
“A special copper beech tree was planted as a tribute to our dear friend and fellow Lion, Nigel Ricketts, who sadly passed away earlier in the year and some of his friends were able to attend and support this event.”
Pictured: Over 700 trees were planted over the weekend of 3rd-4th December.
