HEREFORD in Bloom has distributed 420 young tree plants to a dozen community facilities around the city to help enhance the local environment. The project was part of a national Woodland Trust scheme to plant several million trees to commemorate the start of the First World War 100 years ago, and included a selection of species donated by the trust.

Said Trevor Swindells, chairman of the Bloom group: “We successfully applied to the trust for an allocation of the trees on behalf of the city and were overwhelmed by the response from community centres, schools and parks across the city. We hope to be given another batch of trees in the autumn.”

One of the first to collect from the distribution point at the new Saxon Hall community centre off Hoarwithy Road was the Mayor of Hereford, Cllr Phil Edwards who will be planting them at the Belmont Country Park, which he played a big part in creating. Trees were also planted at Saxon Hall, formerly the camp chapel before the SAS moved out to Credenhill.

Said Trevor: “It is a delight to see how communities across the city are taking responsibility for the environment in their areas, often creating gardens and mini-parks in what was previously neglected sites. It is projects such as these that will impress the Britain in Bloom judges when they assess the city in July and hopefully allow the city to retain the Gold award it won last year.”

Other trees were planted at Abbots Park, Aylestone, Newton Farm, Bobblestock, Westfaling play ground, Hereford Community Farm at Breinton, Holmer church centre and Hampton Dene School.