Schools help to plant new woodland
Planting is almost complete of a new woodland at Fairlands Valley Park, thanks to help from the local community, including ten schools.
Roughly 1,300 new trees were planted in the Southfield at Fairlands with the help of pupils from the following schools:
- Almond Hill School
- Shephalbury Park Primary School
- The Thomas Alleyne Academy
- Greenside School
- Ashtree Primary School & Nursery
- Round Diamond Primary School
- St Nicholas School
- Peartree Spring Primary
- Woolenwick Infant and Nursery School
- Roebuck Academy.
A community planting event was also held on Saturday 28 January and was attended by 80 residents. The planting of the remaining trees to complete the new woodland is expected to take place in February.
A mixture of trees mainly native to the UK have been planted, including Silver Birch, Wild Cherry, Crab Apple, Hazel and Hornbeam. The trees will also vary in size – ranging from smaller seedlings to some over two metres tall, but the majority will comprise whips, which are tree seedlings around two or three years old.
In addition, seven Silver Maple trees were also planted within the new woodland to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee.
Councillor Simon Speller, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change, said:
“I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved in the planting of the new woodland so far – their efforts will help to improve air quality, increase biodiversity and tackle climate change, and provide a new woodland for people to visit for years to come.
"It will be several years before the woodland is fully mature; however, in the meantime, there will be a variety of different habitats to enhance biodiversity, including meadow grasslands, woodland glades, naturally regenerating scrub and access paths.
"Don’t forget there’s still time to submit suggestions for a name for the new woodland. Please send your ideas to community.woodland@stevenage.gov.uk by Wednesday 8 February.”
Name suggestions will be shortlisted, and residents will be invited to vote for their favourite name during March 2023.