Last week I spent a few hours with a group of volunteers planting native trees – oak, hawthorn, alder, blackthorn, lime – at the Pope Lane Tree Planting site. There were about 15 of us plus two members of staff from the Ribble Rivers Trust and it was estimated we planted about 800 saplings that day. It was a satisfying and sociable day and I went home feeling tired and a bit achy but happy to have contributed towards making Preston a cleaner, greener place for the future.
The Pope Lane Tree Planting site is a big project being run jointly between Preston City Council and Lancashire Wildlife Trust. The Ribble Rivers Trust have been tasked to get 7000 trees planted here, starting last winter and into this winter. The planting area is just across the footbridge over the M6 from Grange Park near Ribbleton, and North of Boilton Wood, part of a strip of ancient native woodland (Red Scar and Tun Brook Woods) and one of the only SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest) woods in Lancashire.
Here is the location – an easy walk from Grange Park and also right next to the Guild Wheel for those of you who are cyclists and walkers.
It is hoped that this new woodland will help protect Boilton Wood and connect it to Brockholes Nature Reserve and with nearby Red Scar Wood to provide a bigger, better area of habitat for wildlife. In time, these trees will also help absorb carbon and so help the climate. It is fantastic that Preston has such a valuable site for nature and for people on its doorstep in addition to its several lovely, accessible parks and of course the River Ribble. We all know how being outdoors, especially in nature, is great for our physical and mental health. It felt good to be able to give something back by planting a new woodland to help protect and sustain our natural environment.
To find out more about the Pope Lane tree planting project see this Blog Preston article
There are still plenty more trees to be planted on this site. The Ribble Rivers Trust are running at least 4 more volunteer days this month, starting this Wednesday 6th November. To volunteer on one of these tree planting days see here in order to book your place. Be part of something that’s great for you, for Preston’s future and for the planet!