Local arborists, Arbor Barber, have donated the first 80 trees to plant ‘Charlie’s Coppice’ in Claughbane Plantation. The donation to the Manx Wildlife Trust brings them one more step towards turning Claughbane Plantation from a conifer woodland into wildlife-rich, native habitat.
Charles Edwards, founder of Arbor Barber, has committed the firm to planting a new tree for each one he and his team fell. Andree Dubbeldam from the Manx Wildlife Trust commented: ‘This is a fantastic gesture, and Charlie’s request that we work with the Children’s Centre to get children involved in planting with us is a great idea’.
Lee Brooks and his team from the Children’s Centre Farm helped the Manx Wildlife Trust and Arbor Barber plant the first trees on the 14th February. This has trail-blazed a series of children’s group tree events that will be planting trees and woodland wildflowers all through March.
Most trees planted are hazel, a native Manx tree chosen for their value for nesting birds and wildflowers. Their bonus of hazelnuts, a super-food that should help keep generations of Ramsey children healthy, should produce nuts in about 4-5 years. Claughbane Plantation is situated above Ramsey Hairpin and is the site for the new children’s play fort and maze that is already proving to be a big hit.
Photo - Left to Right Andree Dubbeldam (Manx wildlife Trust), Charles Edwards, Luke Robertson and Declan Cummins (from Arbor Barber). Courtesy of Dawn Dickens, Education Officer for the MWT.
