Every tree counts when helping to solve the climate and biodiversity crises… and now there are around 100 more growing in Ladywell Fields after today’s hedge planting session. A team of GoodGymers joined local families and volunteers from the User Group to create a new 70 metre row of native saplings bordering the children’s play area, making this popular green space even more attractive for both people and wildlife, as well as increasing leafy carbon absorption to help mitigate global heating.

We learned that for trees and other plants to grow successfully, particularly when first planted, their roots need to be in contact with damp aeriated soil. So these steps are important:

• digging a hole deep and wide enough to give all roots space to spread downwards and sideways

• avoiding an air pocket beneath the roots – the hole needs to be deep enough but not too deep because roots surrounded by air will dry out and die

• filling in with crumbly soil then, even if already damp, washing the area with water to settle soil around the roots (if there’s rain due straight after planting then even better!)

• finishing with a generous layer of mulch – we used wood chippings – to hold warmth and moisture in the ground for optimum root growth.

By the end of tomorrow’s Ladywell Fields session, volunteers will have planted around 350 saplings bought using a grant from the Tree Council. Wonderful work everyone!