Planting starts on Exmoor's Celebration Woodland

THE first trees have been planted in a new natural woodland at Wimbleball Lake.

South West Water, the Exmoor Society and South West Lakes Trust have joining forces for the exciting and innovative project, which aims to provide an area where visitors and residents can contribute to the landscape and environment.

The celebration woodland will be planted with a selection of native trees which will cover 1.4 acres and will be open to residents and visitors who wish to join this special tree planting scheme.

It will mark 50 years of the Exmoor Society and provide a woodland which visitors to Wimbleball can enjoy.

“Trees can be donated for numerous reasons,” said Evelyn Stacey, Director of South West Lakes Trust.

“These can include to celebrate a birth, anniversary or birthday.

“Or a tree can be planted in memory of someone special.

“We also think people and business organisations may just wish to contribute to the scheme or to off-set some of their carbon emissions.”

A second phase of planting will take place in the autumn and this pattern will be continued with plantings twice a year in spring and autumn.

To ensure that the Celebration Woodland is kept as natural as possible, trees will not be marked in anyway but a book of dedication will be kept at the tea room at Wimbleball Lake for special messages and remembrance.

Trees can be planted for a donation of £20 which covers the cost of the tree, planting, on-going maintenance and a listing in the dedication book.

Anyone can join the scheme whether they wish to plant just one tree or several.

Anybody who would like more information should contact South West Lakes Trust on 01566 771930.

• Our photograph shows the planting of Oliver’s Oak, the first tree in the celebration woodland at Wimbleball Lake, by (left to right) Cairns Boston, chairman of the South West Lakes Trust trustees, Exmoor Society chairman Rachel Thomas, and South West Water customer services director Monica Reed. Photo by Jim Wileman.