The community tree planting event organised by Peterhead Projects at Buchan Meadows Community Woodland on Sunday 20 November 2011 was a great success.

Around 40 people took part in the activity including families, volunteers and members of Peterhead Youth Forum and Ranger Guides who all worked together to plant over 350 of the 500 trees donated to the community woodland.  The Ranger Guides also put up some of the Bird Boxes that they built last month and Youth Forum members interviewed participants using a video and took pictures of the work groups.

The Woodland Trust’s wild harvest community pack of 420 native broadleaf fruit trees included Crab Apple, Blackthorn, Elder, Dog Rose and Hazel trees. This will help to increase the number of tree species on the site and once the trees are established, the fruit harvest will hopefully encourage more wildlife to the site. Some of the100 oak saplings received as a donation from Mr David Moss from Balmedie, near Aberdeen were also planted on the day.  The trees that have not yet been planted will be planted in the next few weeks by the Peterhead Academy John Muir Award Group and Community Services. There were lots of positive comments from the visitors about the path established through a Sitka Spruce planation by the Academy Pupils as part of their John Muir Award, many said it was “atmospheric” and “like a maze”.

Andy Devine, Community Woodlands Officer said, ‘The aims of the community woodland are to increase biodiversity and promote recreational and educational use of this valuable community resource, and from the feed we received I feel we achieved this on the activity day.   The weather was fantastic and the enthusiasm of the tree planters was amazing, everyone seems to have enjoyed themselves. From 3 year old toddlers to young people and adults, it was good to see so many members of the community supporting the project and working together, a big thank you to them all’.

The Woodland Trust received over 1,000 registrations for community packs this autumn and as a result, more than 200,000 free trees will be planted across the UK. Over 100 communities across Scotland will celebrate with a public tree planting event thanks to the support from players of the People’s Postcode Lottery.

In February, the Trust is encouraging millions of people across the UK to come together and plant one million trees in one month to celebrate 60 years since The Queen's accession to the throne. Communities can take part by applying for a free pack at www.jubileewoods.org.uk/treepacks . Applications for February packs close on Wednesday 7th December.

If anyone one else is interested in becoming involved with the community woodland  please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it