Last weekend saw the culmination of a lot of work by community members and local partners in Stranraer, with trees planted in Rephad Primary School grounds and on the Stanctuary Project site. In total 409 trees were planted at the two locations, with trees planted by people of all ages and experience.
Both projects were funded through the Dumfries & Galloway Tree Planting Grant Scheme which offers grants of up to £1,000 towards native trees and protection to get them established. The scheme operates across the entirety of the region and is itself funded by support from Woodland Trust Scotland, Scottish Forestry and Dumfries & Galloway Council’s Nature Restoration Funding.
The Rephad Primary School planting on Saturday 22nd March were led by Norval Dampney from the Incredible Edible Stranraer project. Norval said:
“This event was made possible by the support, advice and funding from DG Woodlands, Dumfries & Galloway Council Stranraer Team and the fabulous staff and pupils from Rephad Primary School.”
The Stanctuary Project is a partnership initiative between Dumfries & Galloway Council, SEPA – using funds from the Water Environment Fund, and the local community. The Stanctuary Project hosted Rephad pupils on Friday 21st March and then a gang of volunteers on Saturday 22nd. Stanctuary Project Officer, Nick Chisholm, said:
“Can I please say a huge thank you! Firstly to Rephad Teachers and the children who came out on Friday. They were incredible planting machines, I had not expected to get so much done in such a short period of time! Their behaviour was outstanding and their interest and immediate understanding of the importance of this project was fantastic. Their questions, both during the planting and during the walk around the site showed great insight. They are a credit to the community.
Then also thanks to the Stanctuary Volunteers who got the job completed on Saturday. Overall, we planted 360 trees over the two days!”
The D&G Tree Planting Grant Scheme is administered by Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands, a not-for-profit organisation aiming to support trees, habitats and the people that depend upon them across the region. McNabb Laurie from Dumfries & Galloway Woodland attended both planting sessions and said:
“What a busy couple of days in Stranraer. While these were two different locations, the similarity was that at both sites the trees were planted by volunteers, with lots of chat and fun along the way! Rephad pupils actually visited the Stanctuary site on the Friday to help out and everyone was astonished by the level of industry and enthusiasm.
Congratulations to everyone involved and I’m so glad the Dumfries & Galloway Tree Planting Grant Scheme exists to allow us to support these sorts of projects across the region.”
Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands benefits from ongoing support from a range of partners, including Woodland Trust Scotland, Scottish Forestry and Dumfries & Galloway Council’s Environment Team. Work by Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands is being boosted thanks to a major grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, aiming to deliver a tangible response to the twin crises we face and to maximise the benefits delivered in the region.
For more information about Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands, follow them on social media, visit the website www.dgwoodlands.org.uk or sign up for the newsletter here: http://eepurl.com/iAlL6k. Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands is registered in Scotland as a SCIO, number 052525.
Dumfries & Galloway Woodlands is a membership organisation. If you’d like to join as a member, visit the website. For any further info, please contact [email protected].
