Community Tree Planting event - Portchester 

On Thursday 16th February, Portchester residents, including pre-school children, joined the 'Litter Picking Ladies Who Lunch', Tree Officers from Fareham Borough Council and others to plant 350 whips and standards on the open space next to Portchester Castle. The trees were supplied by The Tree Council.
 
The planting started by marking out a thicket in the north-east corner of the site with a variety of native species whips, including hazel, blackthorn, hawthorn, elder, field maple and dog rose. 

Alder and white willow whips were planted around two wet areas in the centre of the area. Six larger standards of black poplar were planted on the drier ground between the two groups of alder. 

Four Mirabelle De Nancy plum standards were planted in a line near the ditch along the eastern edge, joined with a single line of whips to create a mixed hedge. Members of Fareham Borough Council grounds maintenance team were kept busy moving compost in wheelbarrows to mulch the trees.

The planting event was well supported and completed by lunchtime. At least another 30 local people took part, including younger members of the community. 

Hampshire Forest Partnership  is a Hampshire County Council initiative, designed to help deliver the Council's objective of planting one million trees by 2050 by encouraging communities and organisations to work together with the County Council and landowners across the County to increase tree cover and create wildlife corridors.

Councillor Simon Martin, Executive Member for Planning and Development at Fareham Borough Council, said:

"This tree planting initiative is the result of a great deal of planning and teamwork, and I am very proud to see it come to fruition. This project will not only improve the quality of the open space for Portchester residents and visitors but benefit the local biodiversity and ecology. I would also like to extend my special thanks to all the community volunteers who have worked so hard to make this happen."