14.03.2024
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Plymouth Highways used one of their allocated SOMAD days to lend a hand with Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest (PSDCF). PSDCF "is one of the newest of England's 15 Community Forests, and is a partnership between Plymouth City Council, South Hams District Council, and West Devon Borough Council, National Trust, Woodland Trust, Dartmoor National Park, and Devon County Council. They provide funding and support for woodland creation from moor to shore, bringing trees and people together to create healthy, inspiring, resilient places for humans and nature to live, side by side". PSDCF has a target of 500ha woodland creation across south Devon by April 2025, and to date has planted over 15,000 trees in Plymouth alone.
The organisation has made huge improvements to the natural habitat and biodiversity around the Southwest over the past few years. Following the success of our tree planting last year, Plymouth Highways decided to once again get out the office and into the mud to help with a variety of planting at Red Brick Field in Plymouth!
A complementary combination of foliage was planted to deliver biodiversity uplift and enhance the area for the public, including:
- 14 standards incl. 5 silver birch, 6 oak and 3 sweet chestnut
- Community orchard - 8 fruit trees incl. 6 heritage variety Tamar apples, a cherry and a plum.
- 925 whips to create a perimeter hedge, incl. 14+ native species
Alongside our staff, PCC Grounds Team, and PSDCF, a local nursery school 'The Cabin' at Tamar View Nursery helped out with our team. We learned tree planting techniques such as the 'Jacket Potato' method in which the soil was dug in a cross section and lifted out so that it fell apart (similarly to a jacket potato!). The sapling was inserted and then patted back down, making it an efficient method of tree planting. By encouraging children to get involved in environmentally friendly initiatives such as this, we will be providing the skills and instil positive environmental principles that they will hopefully take into adult life.
All in all it was an extremely productive and successful volunteering day with a long-lasting positive impact on the environment. We hope to work with PSDCF again in future and support them in their endeavours. More information on their ongoing campaign and the good work that they do can be found here: https://englandscommunityforests.org.uk/plymouth-and-south-devon-community-forest/
Thank you to Aleksandra Muraszko, Duncan Mortlock, Tara Collinson and Heather Bushell for their efforts helping out on the day and braving the drizzly March conditions for such a brilliant project!
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Albion House
Springfield Road
Horsham
West Sussex
RH12 2RW
