Volunteers help plant 50,000 trees in five years

More than 50,000 trees have been planted across a town during the past five years, exceeding expectations and providing rewarding work for volunteers.

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust wanted to plant trees across 494 acres (200 hectares) - but 568 acres (230 hectares) have been covered, with more trees still to come.

High demand has led to trees being planted in some unused allotments which are prone to flooding.

The wildlife trust and Swindon Borough Council worked together on the Great Western Community Forest and Swindon Forest Meadows projects, launching Trees for Climate five years ago.

Karl Scaplehorn, who began volunteering with Swindon Forest Meadows, said: "I joined the wellbeing group five years ago.

"It's very rewarding, I've learned new skills, gained new confidence and the people are great. It's good to be out in nature. I'd recommend it."

The rewards for volunteer James Pitter include a boost to his career. He graduated with a degree in wildlife biology last year and has now secured a job working on bat ecology.

"Employers wanted practical experience and skills," he said.

"I've learned new skills and got more experience. I've been involved in tree planting, I've managed people, worked on infrastructure like paths and fences and cleared habitats."

Peter Field started volunteering with the project in 2020 after he retired, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

He said: "I was a history teacher, so I've learned a lot more about nature than I knew, and being outdoors is good my health, both my body and head.

"There are a lot of interesting projects, and it gives me a sense of purpose and wellbeing to come and volunteer here."

Neil Pullen, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust's conservation officer, said the tree canopy in the borough has increased from 8% to 13%.

The trust has also been collecting seeds from native trees in Swindon.

"There are great 'cultural' trees in Swindon which we'd like to take seeds from," he added.

"The mulberry at the Richard Jefferies Museum, for example, or the great willow in Wroughton. If we could use the seeds from those trees here, we'd be preserving the cultural legacy as well as the genetic one."

Other smaller projects have been going on, such as counting Great Crested Newts and clearing flood meadows.

"We have an amazing history and culture of trees and nature here in Swindon and we should shout about it and celebrate it," said Mr Pullen.

Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.