Hundreds of young trees have just been planted by volunteers in Gainsborough’s historic Mercer Wood in spite of the cold weather.

Conservation Volunteers have been helped by local students from CLIP and the Environmental Studies Group as well as the regular conservation volunteers.

Conservative West Lindsey District Councillor Mrs. Gill Bardsley, Chairman of the Mercer Wood Community Group, hopes this will mean a new lease of life for the woodland.

“Mercer Wood has been used by fly tippers for years and so we’ve cleared a lot of their rubbish away. It’s also been a place that attracts anti-social behaviour, but it is still used by the wider community.

“With our clearing of rubbish and this planting of so many trees we’re trying to respect and cherish this area. In the past it’s been allotments and the site of Mercer’s animal feed mill.”

Plans include making the wood more welcoming and to secure funding for a woodland management plan. The group also hopes to make the woods’ entrance more welcoming and to create a small community garden.

Mr. David Rodger from The Trust for Conservation Volunteers said the project had received trees for free from British Hardwood Tree Nursery at Snitterby as part of the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affair's 'Big Tree Plant'. He said:

“There’s a real variety of trees, including hazel, maple, hornbeam and hawthorn. When they are fully grown they will create a wind barrier underneath the main canopy which will hopefully mean a warm microclimate within the woods. This will encourage wildlife and will protect trees within from the elements.”

To find out more about Mercer Wood or to volunteer with the Mercer Wood Community Group, visit www.mercerwood.org.uk.