Binsted Eco Network
New hedge marks Blacknest Fields’ new role for nature recovery
Two successful community hedge planting afternoons enabled over 70m of new hedging to be planted at the parish council’s Blacknest Fields last week. The hedge, funded by the Tree Council’s Branching Out Fund, marks the first step in transforming the fields, previously used only for horse grazing, into a site for nature recovery and community green space.
The events were organised by the Binsted Eco Network, in collaboration with Binsted Tree Warden, Ben Hamlin. Volunteers came from both the parish and further afield, and involved children from pre-school, home school, Binsted Primary School, Rowledge Primary School and Lord Wandsworth College.
The Tree Council’s Branching Out Fund specifically focuses on involving UK schools, community groups and Tree Warden networks in the planting of plant trees, hedges and orchards, through projects involving young people.
“The children involved worked really hard to plant the new mixed native hedge, and everyone also had fun building dens, and making ‘dead hedges’ to provide habitat for insects and beetles,” explained Sarah-Jane Womersley, one of the event organisers. “The unexpected spring sunshine made everyone smile, too!”