Picture Story: Saffron Walden residents ‘dig in’ to plant thousands of hedging plants and trees

R4U has announced that its tree planting initiative at Saffron Walden Town Council was successful across all 3 sites in the town.


There were 3000 hedging shrubs and trees

R4U’s Cllr Paul Gadd, Council Leader at Saffron Walden Town Council, said “On Saturday hundreds of local residents of all ages came out to plant trees and hedging plants as part of R4U’s greening initiative in Saffron Walden.  Almost 3,000 young plants were planted in new hedges on Saffron Walden Town Council land off Catons Lane at the Anglo-American Playing Fields, at Crabtrees and Herbert’s Farm.”


SWTC team plant one of the trees

R4U’s Paul Gadd, who led the initiative, said “It was wonderful to see so many residents of all ages coming out to ‘dig in’. Together we put in a huge number of hedges and trees in a short period of time.  The Town Council is very grateful for all the individuals and community groups that got involved, with particular thanks to Essex Wildlife Trust for their expert input.  The Town Council is now putting together a new eco-plan for the next year, looking at where it can reduce mowing, increase wildlife areas and plant more trees, saving money and benefitting the environment.  We’re also looking to share our experiences with the R4U team at UDC as they roll out their own environmental programme in the next few years.”


The SWTC team prepare the ground for the community hedge laying


R4U’s Cllrs Louise Pepper and Neil Reeve discuss where to lay a hedge


The planting included a hedge laid along the edge of the playground and sports fields at the Anglo-American Playing Fields


Large groups of residents, young and old, turned out at 3 planting sites across Saffron Walden