South Hams District Council is delighted to celebrate the achievements in biodiversity creation, a core priority for the Council.

The highlight of efforts so far, is the wonderful Hope Wood in South Brent, a testament to the power of community involvement and dedication.

When Hope Wood was named earlier in the year, many volunteers of all ages helped to plant trees and the site bustled with energy as planters came together to make a difference.

Over 10,000 trees were planted, and they have done extremely well in their first season considering the dry spring and summer.

Attention is now turning to the second year of planting at the site, with around 12,500 trees to be planted, including broadleaf woodland, wood pasture and orchard trees. It promises to be a varied season of planting between November and March at Hope Wood.

To celebrate all the hard work and achievements, Sustainable South Brent are hosting a ‘Planters Picnic’ in early July. This is a celebration of the work achieved so far and is an opportunity for the community to come together to help maintain the site.

In further biodiversity work supported by the Council, ParkLife South West, in partnership with South Devon National Landscapes, have carried out some brush harvesting of Yellow Rattle seeds planted last year with volunteers and apprentices.

These will help create beautiful meadows within South Devon, providing valuable habitats for both plants and animals. The Yellow Rattle once established, will create a vibrant yellow splash of colour during the summer and is the first step towards reverting grass to meadow. As the flowers fade, ripened seed pods give a distinctive rattling sound, which gives them their name.

Cllr John McKay, South Hams District Council's Executive Member for Climate Change and Biodiversity, said: "Hope Wood is a shining example of what can be achieved when a community comes together with a shared vision for biodiversity.

“The dedication and enthusiasm of everyone involved, but especially the South Brent community has been truly inspiring, and their efforts are creating a thriving woodland and parkland that will benefit both people and wildlife for generations to come.

“We are excited to continue our work with more planting activities in the winter tree-planting season and look forward to seeing Hope Wood flourish."

South Hams District Council extends heartfelt gratitude to the South Brent community for their unwavering support and involvement.  Together they are making a significant impact on the local environment and creating a legacy of biodiversity for future generations.

More planting activities are scheduled for the winter tree-planting season both at Hope Wood, and in other projects as part of the Plymouth and South Devon’s Community Forest partnership. This will further enhance the biodiversity of the South Hams and ensure its continued growth and vitality.

For more information on how to get involved with tree planting opportunities, please contact: office@parklifesw.org.uk