During 2020 and 2021, under a variety of lockdown restrictions, over 1,000 young native decidiuous trees, many donated by the Woodland Trust, were planted in five ‘Lockdown Woods’ in the Newbury and Hungerford areas by Newbury Friends of the Earth and supporters to commemorate the hugely difficult period of disruption and sacrifice during the coronavirus pandemic.
On Saturday 5 December 2020 volunteers from Hungerford Environmental Action Team, St Lawrence’s Church and Friends of the Earth planted over 800 saplings (see video) at Westbrook Down, adjacent to Hungerford Marsh on the south side of the Kennet and Avon canal. Previously the site of many majestic ash trees which had been recently felled due to ash die-back disease this site was kindly donated by the Town and Manor of Hungerford for community woodland and is the largest Lockdown Wood in West Berkshire.
On Saturday 22 May 2021 participants gathered for a lovely dedication ceremony at Lockdown Wood in Hungerford (see video).
How to get involved
All the woodlands are being managed sensitively, to encourage wildlife and increase biodiversity and the saplings need to be nurtured and watered. If you would like to join the working parties that maintain the Hungerford woods, please contact heat_hungerford@yahoo.com
Sat 7 Feb Maintenance Party – meet at Marsh Lane Gate at 9.30am. Please wear boots and gloves and bring if you can your own loppers, battery-powered strimmers, loppers, hedge trimmers and secateurs. Bring hot drink if possible otherwise refreshments will be provided. Transport will provided to get the equipment to site. See full details here.
(or if you want to help in Newbury woods please contact Susan on millington.susan@gmail.com or visit the Lockdown Woods facebook group).
