Trees to breath new life into estate’s park

The saplings will be planted in a corner of the Bonny Banks park in Barton as community leaders move to transform unused green spaces.

Last month, the Oxford Mail reported that Barton Community Association was surveying the estate for spots which could be turned into flower beds or even vegetable patches.

The first move will see 105 small saplings, including Rowan and Hazel trees, planted in the park off Bernwood Road on Friday, November 29.

Low Carbon Barton’s Rachael Peace, who is leading the survey, was given the trees free of charge by the Woodland Trust.

She said the new plants would help the estate look better.

She said: “I spotted this unused corner of the park which could be made use of.

“The park is a large open space but this particular corner is a little bit dilapidated so a few saplings will help make a nice new copse.

“It will be a nice addition to the park.”

Mrs Peace said volunteers from the estate would be helping to plant the trees.

She said the project would help to make the estate a better place to live, adding: “It is already quite lovely, it just needs a bit more. And people here already have quite a lot of pride in their area but are probably reticent in getting involved in community projects.”

Mrs Peace also said the project could see community vegetable patches created.

She said it would be important for the estate to provide opportunities to grow food as the cost of living went up.

Mrs Peace added: “The more local food we can grow the better it is for climate change and for people to have affordable meals.”

The planting at 10am next Friday falls within The Tree Council’s National Tree Week, which runs from November 23 to December 1.

Van Coulter, Oxford city councillor for Barton and Sandhills, welcomed the planting was a good community initiative and urged residents to take part in the planting.

s Email rachael.lcbarton@yahoo.com if you would like to help plant the trees.