Green-fingered volunteers plant new hedgerow at farm

WILDLIFE will benefit from a new hedgerow planted by 28 volunteers at a farm on Hayling Island.

A group from the Friends of Chichester Harbour rolled up their sleeves to plant 700 young trees at Northney Farm.

They were joined by Councillor Tim Knight, chairman of Chichester Harbour Conservancy, and Hayling Cllr Frank Pearce.

Hedgerows are home to a wealth of birds, mammals and insects and it is hoped the planting will attract more flora and fauna to the area.

The project forms part of the conservancy’s commitment to carry out landscape enhancements in Chichester Harbour, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Cllr Knight said: ‘We are so grateful for the wonderful contribution our volunteers make to the work of the conservancy – with their help we are able to achieve so much more than we could on our own.’

The new hedgerow runs alongside a footpath so members of the public will be able to see the hedgerow grow.

At the end of the session, the volunteers were rewarded with a bowl of warm home-made soup at the Northney Tearooms.

Stan Pike, from Northney Farm, was delighted with the volunteer’s efforts and thanked the conservancy for their support of the farm.

For any more information about Friends of Chichester Harbour visit http://www.friendsch.org/