THE team behind Andover Trees United has announced it is now in the position to make 'much-needed' improvements to Diamond Wood during a three-year-project.
The Diamond Wood was formed in 2012 as part of the late Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. The 60-acre woodlands were created across the country and Andover’s Diamond Wood, in Enham Alamein, forms 44-acres of it.
Andover Trees United, a community organisation focusing on environmental conservation education and the originator of the Diamond Wood project, was initially allocated 12 acres to plant and manage as community woodland.
Over 10 years, between 2012 and 2022, the group supported 10,000 school children to plant 10,000 trees in what is now known as Harmony Woods.
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Hampshire County Council contracted out the rest of the planting, with the team looking after it from then onwards.
By the end of 2022, the lease to manage the whole site had been transferred to Andover Trees United, along with the corresponding England Woodland Grant Scheme Funds.
This will allow the charity to bring much-needed improvements and create responsible access to the wood in the form of waymarked paths and information boards.
Earth Day is an international annual event on Monday, April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection.
This year, the team is excited to announce that it is working with National Geographic on the long overdue upgrade to the Diamond Wood.
The charity will be working together with its regular volunteer conservation team to put in signposts to help visitors know which permissive paths to use.
This will help to reduce the soil erosion that is taking place at the bottom (eastern) end of the wood, protecting the plant and animal life that lives there.
Andover Trees United has plans to protect and improve biodiversity across the whole wood over the next few years.
It aims to help our visitors access the woodland responsibly to conserve the nature that calls the wood home.
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The single Right of Way (RoW), the East Anton sports field/Smannell footpath, that crosses the wood will not be affected, but there are several permissive paths that will be changing over the coming months, with new signage to help visitors to find their way.
The team will also be working hard to transform the eastern end to create a brand new chalk grassland meadow starting next year.
During the three-year project, there will be numerous community events that will inform, encourage participation and allow the community to enjoy the space. It will also be holding expert talks, community arts, fundraising, wildflower seed sowing and planting events.
The charity organisation has also been awarded the King's Award for Voluntary Service and will be receiving the award on Friday, April 19.
The national honour recognises exceptional contributions made to communities by groups devotedly volunteering their time for the benefit of others.
For more information, visit andovertrees.org.uk.
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