600 trees planted for Dorchester's community woodland
The trees have been donated by the main contractor working on Dorset County Hospital
Volunteers have helped Dorchester town council staff plant around 600 young trees at the new community woodland at King’s Road.
The main contractor on the current Dorset County Hospital construction project, Willmott Dixon, donated the tree whips to be planted at the emerging new community woodland.
Willmott Dixon team members helped to plant the whips during a fun morning alongside staff from Dorchester Town Council and volunteers from People First Dorset, Employ My Ability, The GAP Ecotherapy Project, Thomas Hardye School and Dorset Mind, local mental health charity.
Said Richard Poulter, managing director of Willmott Dixon’s Central South region: “We are proud to be partnering with Dorchester Town Council to improve biodiversity in the area by planting 600 trees in the town as part of our ongoing work at Dorset County Hospital.
“Delivering an environmental net gain is a key ambition for us and we strive to support re-wilding, space for local people to connect with nature, and biodiversity enhancements.”
The company has pledged to plant more than 10,000 trees a year over the next decade as part of the ‘Better Planet’ theme of the company’s 2030 ‘Now or Never’ sustainability strategy.
The trees are a mix of native species and were selected for their benefits to the wider environment by providing food and habitat for birds and other animals, increasing biodiversity in an area that was previously just short mown grass with very little wildlife value. Woodland wild flower planting will follow later in the year.
Manager at People First Dorset Laura Kerr said: “With some of our members having recently taken part in a project to learn more about protecting the environment and climate change at Dorset Museum, there is much enthusiasm and interest to engage in community projects which help protect our local environment. The planting was a lot of fun and it was wonderful for our members and staff team to be working outside together in the fresh air doing something positive!”.
Claire Meyer, Trustee of The Gap added: “The GAP Ecotherapy Project, Dorchester is happy and proud to be involved in volunteering to plant trees as we passionately believe in the value of our natural environment and how helping to take care of it can really improve our sense of wellbeing”
Mark Addison, chairman of governing board at Dorset County Hospital, said: “We’re delighted that our partnership with Willmott Dixon has enabled this tree planting scheme to happen. Thank you to all involved, especially those who volunteered to plant the trees. I’m sure they will be enjoyed by local people for many years to come.”
Town councillor Fiona Kent Ledger said the authority was pleased to be supported by the construction company: “We were delighted to receive the donation of both trees and planting help from Willmott Dixon. It is great to see a company giving back in areas where it carries out work and wisely to be considering the environment in the longer term. I would also like to thank the all the brilliant volunteers who came along to help plant too. We really hope the community take the new wood to their hearts. To see people taking the time and making the effort to help plant it is a really good sign for the future”.