Pictured above, Bridport Tree Planting Co-Ordinator, Joe Hackett, hands over a gift of ten apple trees to BADAS Chair, Fiona Dare, in front of some of the lucky recipients.

“Just the start of what we hope will be a good partnership,” said Joe afterwards. “We hope in the autumn to be able to give more ”food trees” – not just apples but pears, plums, nuts also – to people with allotments. We want to do everything we can to encourage production oflocal nutritious food”

Bridport Tree Planting has been in existence since the autumn of 2019. Part of West Dorset Friends of the Earth, it started with a gathering of names of people interested in trees to help fight climate change and increase biodiversity. Soon it grew in strength by being able to give away three non-fruit native species like rowan, hazel, hawthorn, birch to each household – this still applies – and planting trees in such public spaces as Asker Meadows and St. Mary’s Fields. “I remember well that first public planting. Seventy people turned up. It was organised chaos!” said Joe. “Soon after that two good things happened. We were sponsored by Groves Nursery, who generously gave us a tree or equivalent for every tree they sold – and we were lucky to find a private sponsor who is very keen on trees. Thanks to her, we have never been short of money. We’ve planted or given away close on a thousand trees a year.”

John Hinsley, another local resident, is a key part of the success, ordering in free saplings from Ovo Energy as part of the I Dig Trees initiative, and advising local groups and individuals. Bridport Tree Planting has just finished planting another public open space – Flaxhayes at the top end of St. Swithins Road – and works closely with Bridport Town Council.

For more information, and if you wish to receive Bridport Tree Planting’s newsletter, sent to 250 people, apply to joe@thehacketts.uk