Haydon Wick Parish Council Backs Ambitious Tree Planting Project
Council partners with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust to enhance local habitats and biodiversity with new trees and hedgerows.
By Verity Coombes
••2 min read
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Generic image of a newly planted tree sapling and hedgerow in a green West Country landscape.
Haydon Wick Parish Council has approved plans to collaborate with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust on a project to plant up to 45 new trees and native hedgerows across the parish, aiming to improve local wildlife habitats and green spaces.
The initiative seeks to secure external funding, potentially through the Great Western Community Forest programme, to enhance habitat connectivity between key green spaces. This includes areas like Henchard Open Space, land near Orchid Care Home, The Chestnuts, and Queen Elizabeth Park. The project aims to support species such as Great Crested Newts, increase tree canopy cover, and improve public open spaces for residents.
Wiltshire Wildlife Trust will provide ecological expertise and technical leadership throughout the funding application and project development. The council is committed to community involvement, building on the success of previous volunteer planting initiatives. Local schools, residents, and youth groups may have opportunities to participate if the funding bid is successful.
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"Despite living in an urban area, we are fortunate to have some wonderful green spaces on our doorstep. Protecting and improving them is important for our community. Working with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust offers an opportunity to secure investment, improve local habitats and involve residents and schools in creating lasting benefits for both people and wildlife."
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"Our green spaces support important wildlife, including Great Crested Newts, but we need to strengthen the habitats connecting them. Planting up to 45 new trees and native hedgerows will help create better wildlife corridors, increase tree cover and improve our open spaces. This is about protecting our natural environment while ensuring children and families can continue to enjoy these wonderful green spaces for generations to come."
If the funding application is successful, planting is expected to take place during the 2026/27 winter planting season. Ongoing maintenance will be supported through the project funding and the Council’s Parks & Open Spaces Team.
