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Press Release

17 December 2024

Council seeks volunteers to help plant mini forest

Fareham Borough Council is looking for green-fingered local residents, schools and community groups that would like to take part in a momentous tree planning event in early 2025.

Fareham Borough Council has received funding through Hampshire County Council’s Forest Partnership to plant around 1,650 new trees and shrubs in Seafield Park, Hill Head, to create a new ‘mini forest’.

Planting mini forests is strongly supported by the Council, as they contribute towards mitigating the effects of climate change and provide new natural environments with benefits for wildlife and biodiversity. The mini forest also supports Hampshire County Council’s pledge to have a million new trees planted across the county by 2050.

At least 20 different species of trees and shrubs will be planted in early 2025 to encourage biodiversity - including disease resistant elms, English oaks, beech, elders, hazel and holly. There will also be an area for wildflowers to thrive and special thanks goes to ‘Wildflower Turf Ltd’ which has kindly donated the wildflower seed for this project.

Anyone who would like to take part should head to www.fareham.gov.uk/communityplanting and fill in the short ‘expression of interest’ form.

Executive Member for Streetscene, Councillor Ian Bastable, said: “This fantastic project offers local people and groups the chance to get outside and do something really constructive for their local community. This mini forest will not only help mitigate the impacts of climate change but will also create a beautiful ‘leafy legacy’ for future generations. I encourage anyone who would like to take part to express their interest early, so that we can organise this momentous planting event as soon as possible in 2025.”

Councillor Kirsty North, Hampshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Universal Services, added: “I am delighted that the County Council is supporting this wonderful mini forest in Hill Head. It is a great example of how the County Council’s Forest Partnership is bringing people together to plant trees across Hampshire and mark His Majesty’s Coronation.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Funding for the mini forest comes from a national grant awarded to the Hampshire Forest Partnership from the Government’s Nature for Climate Fund via Defra’s Coronation Living Heritage Fund. The County Council secured a £50,000 award for the establishment of Coronation micro-woods in urban areas – this applies techniques that enable dense woodlands, usually the size of a tennis court, to grow up to ten times faster than normal. Another £50,000 grant is available for Coronation Community Orchards. Groups or communities interested in planting trees, a mini forest or orchard can contact the Hampshire Forest Partnership via its website People and communities | Hampshire County Council (hants.gov.uk). The Forest Partnership’s Coronation fund is open for projects that can be planted by March 2025.