Hundreds of trees planted in Wolverhampton park
A team of volunteers and councillors have planted 600 new trees in a Wolverhampton park to create a "tiny forest".
Around 30 different varieties of trees and shrubs were planted this week in Ashmore Park in Griffiths Drive, Wednesfield.
Volunteers from the estate joined with councillors Phil and Mary Bateman in the large-scale planting project.
Councillor Bateman said: “What a fantastic day we had. We already have an array of trees that are both majestic and imposing growing around the park. They include species which are locally rare, as well as trees from other continents which are now growing in Ashmore Park.
"The historic record shows 60 trees that belong to the Common Lime species, and there are 60 trees that are known as Grey Alder. Whitebeam, which is represented by 44 trees – as well as 37 Poplar trees and 32 Horse Chestnut trees.
"They are the biggest varieties in the park according to the Forestry Commission. Black Poplar is the most endangered native timber tree in Britain – and we have 37 of these trees in our park, which is absolutely tremendous.
"There are also two Silver Limes, which is a species of Tilia native to South-Eastern Europe and South-Western Asia, from Hungary and the Balkans – east to western Turkey,” he added.
"Another of the varieties of trees we have is one of the giants of the tree world – Red Cedar. Thuja Plicata is a semi-large to very large tree, ranging up to 65-70 metres tall and 3-4 metres in trunk diameter and sometimes even larger.
"You can clearly see that rather than Ashmore Park having just boring old trees – in fact we have a marvellous set of tree species that the city of Wolverhampton should be proud of.
“Lots of people turned up to help sponsors Severn Trent Water with the planting, which we are calling a ‘tiny forest’, as part of their sponsorship of the soon to arrive Commonwealth Games, being held in Birmingham.
“So Wednesfield, has another 600 trees and shrubs, with 15 individual British varieties being planted by a large army of volunteers. The park has an oval-style bed that is now the home to these trees.
“There is also a sign placed by Severn Trent Water which explains the thoughts behind this project,” said Councillor Bateman.
“We have such a fantastic park here on the estate, with more than 1,000, trees now planted – and all making a huge contribution to climate control change as well.”
