Volunteers from Worcestershire community organisations have planted trees at the county's newest woodland in Upton Snodsbury.

The dedicated planting days were organised for the volunteers to help create the county's new green spaces.

One of the groups involved is the Worcestershire Woodlands Project, working with adults in need of care and support from across Worcestershire, focusing on improving their physical and mental health and social skills through conservation work in a unique woodland setting.

One of the care leavers, who helped to plant trees, said: “It was a fantastic experience and it built my confidence up a lot more I would like to thank all the staff that were there, they taught us a lot about trees and planting them. I am proud of the many trees we all planted. Teamwork makes the dream work. and in a few years, the woodland is going to look beautiful once it is all finished.”

Worcester News: Care Leavers help with Tree Planting at Upton Snodsbury

The Worcester Environmental Group has also been contributing on site and the county’s care leavers have also had the opportunity to help in the project.

Councillor Richard Morris, Worcestershire County Council’s cabinet member for the Environment, said: “It has been wonderful to see spades in the ground here in Upton Snodsbury and to see and hear about so many people on site, enjoying the opportunity in the great outdoors to helping us to plant the trees.

"I look forward to seeing progress as the seasons change, and I look forward to announcing further sites in the near future, to ensure we meet our target of 150,000 trees.”

When the Upton Snodsbury site is completed, it will have 16,000 trees and a new community orchard.

The site is part of the county council's plans to plant 150,000 trees at different sites across the county.

More woodlands are also being created in Dodderhill Parish, the county council said, with an announcement of another site expected later this spring.

Previous similar projects include woodlands established at New Farm in Norton and Blackstone Picnic Place in Bewdley.

The project includes plans to make the county more pollinator friendly by setting aside lands as wildflower meadows alongside the tree planting areas.

There is also a plan to create a new wetland next to the river Avon.