Micro forest of native trees planted in town park

A new micro forest has been established with 750 native trees planted in a town park.

The forest in Castlefields Park in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, has been funded by King Charles III's Coronation Living Heritage Fund.

Micro forests were pioneered by the Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki - and are about the size of a tennis court.

The organisers of the project hope it will become "a rich habitat for birds, bees and other wildlife".

No-one knows for sure if there ever was a castle in Castlefields, although historians have spoken of a medieval castle on or near the site.

It has an Edwardian bandstand, which was boarded up for several years but has been restored.

Botanist Miyawaki pioneered the use of densely-planted trees in a small area to create forests in 20 to 30 years - instead of the usual 100.

Volunteers carried out the planting in Castlefields Park, under the supervision of a company called Tomorrow's Forests.

Anna Leveridge from the firm said: "This new micro forest can help tackle the impacts of poor air quality, provide more shade, and become a peaceful space for the community to enjoy.

"By using the Miyawaki method, the trees will grow quickly, creating a rich habitat for birds, bees, and other wildlife.

"It's been fantastic to see local volunteers getting involved, and we can't wait to watch this space flourish for generations to come."

North Northamptonshire Council received funding of £27,765 from the Coronation Living Heritage Fund to pay for the creation of this forest, another one at Croyland Primary School - and a third in Kettering.

The funding includes maintenance for the next three years.

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