Wild about Woodlands tree-planting campaign bears fruit

A highly successful conservation campaign run by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Trust, Wild about Woodlands, has exceeded all expectations and begun its work of transforming local hedgerows, hedge banks and wildlife corridors after exceeding its initial target of raising £10,000 to plant an additional 1,000 trees across the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

Over 6,000 trees were planted during the past winter months at nine separate sites, which were carefully selected by conservation specialists to ensure the best locations, along with protection for existing meadow habitats.

Director of the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Trust, Jessica Morgan, said: “Although trees play a vital role in the fight against climate change, as well as supporting the wildlife around us, it’s easy to forget that hedgerows perform a similar function and are often the unsung heroes of our countryside.

“Having been a defining feature of our landscape for over a thousand years, around half our hedgerows have been lost since the end of World War Two. This has left us vulnerable to the threats of climate breakdown, while intensifying the decline in biodiversity.”

Volunteers have been involved in planting process at several sites, including Sychpant, where six Duke of Edinburgh volunteers planted a mix of 470 trees, and along the Cleddau Estuary, where around 1,900 whips were planted including oak, hawthorn, blackthorn, hazel, dog rose, crab apple, birch, elder and cherry, and will be of particular benefit to local bat populations.

A further 1,200 trees have been planted at Carew Castle and Nevern as part of an agroforestry scheme.

Other restorations include a hedge bank in Moylegrove and former hedgerows are also being restored at Maenclochog and Dinas and new hedgerows in Brynberian, helping to link the nearby National Nature Reserve of Tŷ Canol to other woodland sites nearby.

At Penygroes, on the edge of Mynydd Preseli, 300 trees have been planted in a new hedge and former pig enclosure to provide vital connectivity for adders in the area.

One of the best things about supporting hedgerows and tree planting is that once established, they can be managed with minimum intervention and cost.

As new funding is secured, further opportunities will be sought to increase the number of trees planted in Pembrokeshire and to support volunteer Tree Wardens. Work will also be undertaken to increase the area of favourably managed habitats that support biodiversity areas and key connectivity corridors in the National Park.

The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Trust is a charity registered by the UK Charity Commission. Its registered charity number is 1179281.

To donate online and find out other more about the Wild About Woodlands campaign visit www.pembrokeshirecoasttrust.wales/wild-about-woodlands/