President Neil Kirkham and 16 members of the Horbury and Ossett Phoenix Rotary Club were the central core of volunteers who spent the Saturday before Easter planting over 500 trees on the former landfill site at off Owl Lane, Shaw Cross, Ossett. They were joined by family members and additional volunteers from the Ossett and Wakefield Rotary Clubs. The event was a joint effort organised by Roger Parkinson of the Woodland Trust and Rotarian Nick Bardsley.
The species planted were all native British and Hawthorn, Oak, Alder, Wild Cherry, Willow and Blackthorn. Although the site is currently somewhat barren at the moment the planting will ensure that the natural environment will be significantly improved as the trees mature and varied wildlife takes up residence and starts breeding.
Nick Bardsley said " We spent about an hour and a half planting trees which can be regarded as a small investment of time to provide an environmental benefit which should last many years"
Photo: Depicts Members of the Rotary Club of Horbury and Ossett Phoenix and some of their family helpers with Roger Parkinson of the Woodland Trust. (in the centre wearing a hi-viz jacket)