National Trust Purbeck Project to Plant 60,000 Trees

The National Trust works to fix up wood pasture. This habitat helps songbirds a lot. Wood pasture has fields, bushes, hedges, and trees. It is full of different life forms.

Birds like yellowhammers nest there. Rare turtle doves and nightingales also live there. The plan is to make 940 acres of wood pasture. This is happening in Purbeck. People will plant around 60,000 trees. Shrubs will also get planted over six years.

They will plant crab apple and hazel trees. Holly, hawthorn, elder, and wild pear will grow, too. These give lots of fruit and blossoms. Ben Cooke works for the National Trust.

He says Purbeck’s birdsong has quieted. Some bird types have even gone away. Restoring wood pasture can help. It brings back birdsong and insect buzz. This will happen all over Purbeck.

He dreams of hearing turtle doves again. Wood pasture is like the New Forest. It helps nature since it mixes habitats. Open areas and fields grow wildflowers and bugs. Bushes give animals shelter and feeding.

Bats, birds, and lichens love the trees. Together, these make a lively landscape. People can see, hear, and smell nature there. This place might inspire people.

They could then make similar spaces. These could be in gardens, schools, or parks. Four farmers in Purbeck help with this work. More farmers might join the wood pasture project.