Doncaster couple donate trees to their favourite park

This brings the total number to over 1,500 in four years all aimed to make the Jubilee Park Experience a better one.

Friends of Jubilee Park Secretary Dave Ketteridge said: “This piece of open space has been a lifeline to sanity for many local families during the Covid lockdowns, in addition to making a contribution against global warming and wildlife. We made sure all the arrangements were covid legal.

"Many of the first trees planted are now at head height so we are seeing a difference already.

"We cannot thank our volunteers enough. Our next project will be to increase the number of spring bulbs to welcome in 2021.”

A big feature this year was a donation of 200 trees, all featuring blossom, flowers or berries to brighten up the daily walk, given by the Wright family to honour mum and dad’s birthdays.

Colin is aged 84 and Yvonne 80. Yvonne, who lives in Station Road, said: “The kids asked us what we would like for our birthdays and I said that at our time of life we’ve got our health and our family, so we’ve really got everything. Let’s have some trees for our favourite park. It was a memorable day with so many people coming out to join in.”

The Wright family donation enabled the group to re-create a length of ancient hedgerow along one of the borders. When these were established, often as a result of Enclosure Acts some two hundred years ago, they could develop to become subject to Protection Orders.

Hedges planted originally with one species, usually hawthorn, gradually increase their diversity as trees self-set among them over the years, adding diversity and benefitting wildlife.

The rest of the trees arrived free, courtesy of Ovo Energy as part of their plan to become carbon neutral, so far they have paid for a million trees nationwide, distributed by The Conservation Volunteers based at Potteric Carr Nature Reserve Doncaster.

To find out more about Jubilee Park and its friends group follow the group’s Facebook page.

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