Nick Herbert plants new trees in Steyning
Arundel & South Downs MP Nick Herbert MP joined a team of helpers planting saplings at Dingemans Court in Steyning on Saturday morning (26 March).
This special tree planting event was in conjunction with the Royal Horticultural Society's ‘It's Your Neighbourhood', a UK-wide scheme. The Woodland Trust provided the 105 saplings which were planted along the border of the gardens at Dingemans Court. The theme of the donated trees was ‘jams, jellies, chutneys and cordials', and the pack contained varieties including crab apple and elder.
Mr Herbert had plenty of help with the digging and planting from a team of local Neighbourhood Wardens and junior wardens from Steyning & Upper Beeding, as well as the scheme manager Carol Rawlings, locum scheme manager Janine Wise and Saxon Weald's chairman David Avery. Their families also helped at this special event.
Dingemans Court has been providing sheltered accommodation for senior residents in Steyning for over 20 years, and the residents were delighted by the activity when they watched the tree planting in glorious sunshine.
It took less than an hour for all 105 trees to be planted, and the team were rewarded with tea and cake in the residents lounge. The junior wardens enjoyed sweets as well. Zoe, a junior warden with the neighbourhood scheme said, "I really enjoyed it. It was hard work, but I liked helping." The team will visit their new saplings regularly to keep them watered.
Afterwards, Mr Herbert commented, "I was delighted to be asked to support today's tree planting. It was tremendous fun, and the sun shone for us. I was also pleased to see five of our very special junior wardens from the Neighbourhood Warden scheme helping out. The wardens and juniors regularly support communities like Dingemans Court, and do a fantastic job."
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Notes for Editors
1. For more information about the Royal Horticulture Society (RHS), visit www.rhs.org.uk
2.. For more information about RHS Community Horticulture and the ‘It's Your Neighbourhood' scheme, please contact sophiedawson@rhs.org.uk