Staff and volunteers from Shrewsbury Town Council, together with volunteers from Shropshire Wildlife Trust, sixty pupils from Crowmoor Primary School and students from Severndale School have re-planted a damaged hedgerow at Monkmoor River Ground.
Last summer, staff from the Town Council’s Countryside and Greenspace Team discovered that weed killer had been used to spray almost the entire length of hedgerow, killing around 500 newly planted trees.
Matt Wilcoxon, countryside and greenspace team leader at Shrewsbury Town Council, said: “Whilst we were devastated to see the willful destruction last year, we have worked hard since the summer to get everyone on board to help replant this vital hedge to help our wildlife in the Monkmoor area.
“We have been delighted with the help we have received from the volunteers from the Shropshire Wildlife Trust and the students from Severndale School. It has also been great to see so many pupils from Crowmoor Primary School come along and help us. Everyone has been so enthusiastic and worked well together to help our local wildlife.
“In addition, we appreciate the donation of plants for our wildlife hedgerow from ReadyHedge Limited, which was a real boost for the whole team after the destruction of our hard work last year.”
Having heard of the damage last year, Worcestershire company Readyhedge Limited donated 40m of hawthorn plants to help restore the damaged hedgerow.
Director and owner Simon Williamson said: “When we heard of this wanton destruction to the hedgerow at Monkmoor Fields, we had no hesitation in donating plants to help Shrewsbury Town Council replace this hedgerow. We are pleased to be able to supply plants to help restore a vandalised site.”
One local resident who was appalled by the damage also donated £100 to help fund new planting stock to replace the hedge.
Helen Ball, town clerk for Shrewsbury Town Council, added: “We are delighted that so many people have rallied to help us replace this hedgerow, including a very generous donation from a local resident.
“The hedgerow will provide a vital habitat for local wildlife once it has matured. It has been a real team effort and has helped to go some way to mitigate the wanton damage that someone inflicted on the hedgerow last year.”
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