YOUNGSTERS from Malvern Wyche Primary School have planted 60 new shrubs at All Saints Wood to give it a new lease of life.
The small woodland, next to All Saints Church on Wells Road, had long been left without intervention.
But a planting day last month saw the school and Malvern Hills Trust’s new chief executive Deborah Fox mark the end of an 18-month woodland management and habitat restoration project.
The project aims to improve the quality of the woodland for wildlife and people.
Hazel, Dogwood, Alder buckthorn and Guelder rose saplings were planted, secured and protected with stakes and tree guards.
Before the recent works, the native woodland flora had been smothered by Cherry laurel, an invasive, non-native plant with thick, glossy leaves.
The dense, evergreen stands of laurel stopped light from reaching the woodland floor and prevented flowers from growing.
By removing the laurel and planting the shrubs, local fauna and flora including woodland flowers will be able to once again bloom.
Malvern Wyche Primary School’s Year Six teacher Richard Turley said: “We had the children from our youngest class to our oldest class involved with the planting of the saplings, and they all thoroughly enjoyed getting stuck in.
“We’re looking forward to many more visits to the woodland area, and we hope that this will help the children develop a better understanding and appreciation of nature.”
