NEW hedges were planted by green-fingered volunteers through funding from a community scheme.

Over 800 young hedges were planted along a 130 metre stretch at Droitwich Community Woods.

The work was funded by £1,000 given by Wychavon District Council that was raised through the Tesco Bags of Help fund.

The new hedges stretch along the main road near to the visitor car park at Ombersley Way.

Lynn Stevens, senior parks and greenspace officer for Wychavon District Council, said: “Droitwich Community Woods is such a popular place for local people to visit and this project will help transform an exposed section of nature reserve into a more pleasant place to walk, as well as creating a new wildlife corridor alongside a busy road.”

The planting was organised to help introduce a natural buffer between the main road and the woods and took place on Thursday February 16.

Liz Etheridge, wildlife projects officer at Wychavon District Council, said: "Often, wildlife conservation is about cutting trees down to let light in, or clearing bramble to make a footpath more open.

"It makes a nice change for volunteers to be able to plant trees and shrubs and help them grow."

The young hedge whips will grow into a complete hedgerow packed full of a variety of native plants such as blackthorn, dogwood and dog rose that will provide flowers and fruit for wildlife.

Staff from Continental Landscapes Ltd were also on site putting up a protective fence along the hedge, which will be removed when the hedge is more established.

The funding for the Droitwich Community Woods planting came about after shoppers in local Tesco stores voted for their three favourite projects that would ultimately help wildlife in Worcestershire.

Bags of Help offers community groups and projects across the UK a share of revenue generated from the 5p charge levied on single-use carrier bags.

Organisations from around 185 Tesco regions in the UK will receive a share of the Bags of Help fund.

For more information visit www.tesco.com/bagsofhelp.