Sandles biodiversity plantings

On Thursday, 24th November, a group of about thirty volunteers planted a double width hedgerow as well as a new tree and shrub area near the bike and car park at Sandles in the Radley lakes.

Work started in sunshine but the team from the Earth Trust, Radley Lakes Trust, Radley Environment Group and other organisations had to battle through torrential rain to complete the task.

Work started in sunshine …

and it got muddy …

then the rain came …

but everything was completed

About 450 plants were put in, each with a Tubex guard (which will be recycled later) and a stake.

The hedgerow is made from about 300 plants of nine different species and is about forty metres long.

About 150 plants were placed in the tree and shrub area which is approximately ten by twelve metres.

The species planted were

Hedgerow plants: Cornus sanguinea (Common Dogwood), Corylus avellana (Hazel), Crataegus monogyna (Hawthorn), Euonymus europeas (Spindle), llex aquifolium (Holly), Rosa canina (Dog rose), Viburnum opulus (Guelder rose), Acer campestre {Field maple) and Quercus robur (Oak)

Tree and Shrub area: Acer campestre (Field maple), Viburnum opulus (Guelder rose), Viburnum lantana (Wayfaring tree), Craetegus monogyna (Hawthorn), Prunus avium (Wild cherry), Rhamnus cathartica (Purging buckthorn), Lonicera periclymenum (Common honeysuckle), Prunus spinosa (Blackthorn) and Sorbus aucuparia (Rowan).

All are native and biodiverse rich, unlike the leylandii which previously lined the site.  They will also help sequester carbon which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere.