Help clean up a woodland
Published
Wednesday 27 November, 2024
Updated
Thursday 28 November, 2024
People helped remove thousands of tree covers from a community woodland on the Isle of Sheppey.
Swale Borough Council, working with volunteers and a local business, organised another community volunteer day, on 28 November, to help collect and remove thousands of tree covers from Kingsborough Manor Woodlands.
100,000 whips, which were planted with protective tree covers alongside a development in Eastchurch, have now grown into 13 hectares of beautiful community woodland.
However, the trees have outgrown their protective guards and a group of committed volunteers have been working hard to collect and clear the fallen covers.
The council also arranged a volunteer day earlier this year, where officers and volunteers worked hard to remove thousands of the tree guards which then went to recycling.
CDDL Recycling provided the tonne bags needed to collect the guards and are removing and recycling the covers for free once again.
This is one of many events planned across the borough as part of the councils Tree Week events which includes; tree planting, litter picking and more, offering opportunities to celebrate and promote trees and discover how important they are to our lives.
National Tree Week is the UK’s largest annual tree celebration and runs from 23 November until 1 December this year.
Cllr Rich Lehmann, chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee, said:
“We are very grateful for the efforts of the committed volunteers who are working hard to keep Swale clean, which shows the pride and love they have for our amazing borough.
“This is the second volunteer day we have planned to help remove these covers, and it is a great opportunity to get out in nature and celebrate Tree Week.
“We made a big difference, clearing large portions of the woods of litter and thousands of tree guards, but there are still a lot more to collect and remove.
“We appreciate all of the support the dedicated volunteers have shown to us in helping keep Swale clean, this event was an amazing opportunity to get involved with a great cause.
“I would like to personally thank everyone who has been working to clear the thousands of guards, those that came to our volunteer day, and the local businesses who are supporting us.”
Dave Green, local resident and volunteer, said:
“I live in Kingsborough Manor and I have been coming to this woodland for the past nine years.
“I noticed all the plastic on the bottoms of the trees, some of the trees are dying because of the mud that gets taken up into the plastic by insects, so the plastic needs to come off.
“This is your woodland and in 100 years all of your children and family will grow up, this is where you bring your dog for a walk, come for a walk on a sunny day, it's a beautiful place.”
