MORE trees will be planted in Melksham as part of the town council’s tree planting scheme to support the environment and biodiversity. They include the planting of a rare Wiltshire Dognose apple tree.
The community tree planting scheme, for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, invited residents to collect saplings to plant. A mature oak tree was also purchased and planted in King George V Park last March. A rare Wiltshire Dognose apple tree, grafted from an original tree at the Melksham Rectory and obtained by local woman, Annie Benham-Taylor, will be planted in Melksham Cemetery.
Developing the initiative further, a tree planting strategy has been developed by the town council’s environment and climate working group (ECGW). New trees will be planted across various sites in the town costing the council £14,895.60. The locations for the new trees include; Riverside Drive green; Sandridge Road verge; Clackers Brook dog park; and Foresters Park Road field.
At the town council’s asset management and amenities meeting, held on Monday 6th February, councillors reviewed quotes from three contractors to plant the trees. Cllr Saffi Rabey said, “As chair of the ECWG working group, I’d like to share that we have had a good discussion about this and a good discussion with officers about which contractor to go for. This is a really exciting plan.”
It was also confirmed by councillors at the meeting, that the cost of planting the trees includes a security cost to protect the trees from vandalism, and it was proposed for the trees to be watered daily by the amenities team. However, councillors raised objections to this, resolving to go with the expertise of the contractors instead.
Deputy town clerk, Pasty Clover said, “When we went around with the contractors, they advised that the trees should be able to fend for themselves for the first two years, and only to be watered if there was a drought.”
The council will now progress with appointing the contractor to plant the trees in the next planting season beginning in November.
Pictured: Terri Welch and Annie Benham-Taylor, from the town council Planting Strategy Group.
