Major scrub creation project on the Green

You will soon begin to see plantings of copses of scrub on the Green. Look out for them in Blyth Meadow and Lester’s Piece, the grazing meadows nearest the Industrial Estate Entrance.

Why are we doing this? First of all, local users and supporters of the Green love to see trees and scrub and often ask us to put in more. So it’s good for local people and it’s doing what they want. Secondly, the right tree in the right place for the right reason is a good thing for the planet – trees help to absorb carbon dioxide and so reduce the greenhouse effect which does such damage to the planet and to our climate.  And thirdly, it’s a great way to get people down on the Green helping to do things for wildlife. As well as our usual work-party volunteers working really hard alongside Environment Agency people, who helped design and deliver the project, families were invited down on a special community day, and the Eco Dudes from Edgar Sewter Primary School took time out of the classroom to help plant up the copse alongside the railway line. There’s more to do, including sorting out fencing to protect the new tiny plantings from the cows who will be coming back in May.

Why scrub and not full-sized trees? Scrub is rarer than woodland and a very valuable habitat for birds to nest and feed, and for a whole range of small mammals – voles, woodmice – and invertebrates – butterflies, beetles, bugs.

If work parties are not for you, you can still be immensely helpful. Contact us on thegreen@halesworth.net to arrange a get-together to see if your skills can fit our needs. No-one is ever left alone on any project, and you might even have an idea for solving a problem or making an impact that hasn’t occurred to any of the current volunteers yet.

If you do feel like putting on your boots and picking up a tool, weekly Wednesday morning work-parties start at 9.30 until approximately 11.30, usually starting at the containers at the Blyth Industrial Estate entrance to the Green. We provide gloves and tools, you just need to bring a drink and nibble for the break. Have a browse on www.millenniumgreen.halesworth.net  or contact the Green at the email above.

Picture: Eco Dudes from Edgar Sewter Primary School help with the planting