Volunteers from around Worcester have been taking on the daunting task of digging over 1,000 holes over the past few days – all to help the city’s wildlife.

Members of Worcester Environmental Group, Worcester City Council Conservation Team and Nunnery Wood High School Eco Club are working to plant an edible hedge for wildlife in Aconbury Orchard.

Thanks to a grant from Councillor Andy Roberts from his Worcestershire County Council divisional fund, the group has taken delivery of  the following impressive shopping list, supplied by the Woodland Trust.

A total of 50 oaks, 125 blackthorns, 75 crab apples, 75 dogwoods, 75 dog roses, 125 field maples, 600 quickthorns and 125 hazels will be going into the freshly dug holes.

Cllr Roberts said:  “The fantastic work which the Worcester Environmental Group are undertaking has really caught the imagination of local residents.

“I’m delighted to be able to support the effort to plant more trees in Worcester, which will benefit wildlife and help to reduce the city’s Co2 emissions.”

 

Volunteers taking a well-earned break after their hard work

Volunteers taking a well-earned break after their hard work

 

WEG founder Paul Snookes says the new hedgerow will bring enormous benefits to local wildlife: “As well as creating a rich source of food for birds, mammals, amphibians and insects, it’s going to provide them with both a home and a really beneficial wildlife corridor.

“It won’t just be wildlife which benefits. We’ll be able to forage for hazelnuts, rose hips and sloe berries, while making sure we leave plenty for our beleaguered wildlife. 

“It will  improve the environment by capturing carbon, reducing flooding and cutting air pollution and it  will also  simply make the place look nicer, which helps with our mental health.”

Paul says this will help with the current move to “re-wilding”, which is already having a positive impact.

“There’s a hedge near the hospital which hasn’t been cut back at the beginning of the winter and I’m now seeing birds, which have come from as far away as Scandinavia, feast on the berries there.

“I would urge everybody with a garden to let their hedges grow during the winter.”

WEG, in conjunction with Onside – a mental health charity, is putting forward proposals for a lot more edible hedges and fruit trees to be planted along a 12-mile wildlife corridor around Worcester that will be a huge boost for nature and our mental and physical health.

For more information, go to theweg.org.uk/wild-about-worcester