Community comes together at Caithness woodland.

An energetic bunch of volunteers headed to Newtonhill Community Woodland, Wick last Saturday to take part in a tree planting and clean up event.

The day was organised though Highland Council’s Planning and development Service local countryside ranger.  The trees were funded through the Community Tree Planting Fund 2006 (a partnership between the Woodland Trust and the Community Woodland Association), where as the volunteer refreshments were funded by the Community Service Volunteers Action Earth supported by Scottish Natural Heritage. 

Over 30 volunteers from the Friends of Newtonhill Woodland, Wick Rotary Club and Caithness Countryside Volunteers worked together on the day to plant 90 broadleaf trees including alder, white beam, birch, black thorn and bird cherry.  Each of the trees was staked and guarded.  Some of the volunteers took part in a clean up and removed recreational litter and re-surfaced rubbish from the old dump days.

Marina Swanson, East Caithness ranger and watch group leader said: “It was wonderful to see a range of different volunteer groups coming together to deliver a very worthwhile project.  Everyone was full of enthusiasm and worked very hard to get all the trees planted and litter picked.  Many thanks to everyone who gave up their Saturday morning to help out and to our funders for supporting the event.”

The Highland Council Planning and Development’s Countryside Rangers are supported by Scottish Natural Heritage.