Planting begins on 25,000 tree woodland

Planting of oak trees has started on land in south Devon to create a community woodland.

South Hams District Council bought the 65 acres (26 hectares) of land earlier this year and is hoping to plant 25,000 trees on the site in South Brent.

The woodland has been officially named Hope Wood and the council said the planting aimed to tackle climate change and increase biodiversity by 20%.

Julian Brazil, the council leader, said it was "a real legacy for the community."

He said: "It's great for the countryside.

"The idea this is going to be an oak wood, I won't see that but my grandchildren will."

As part of the woodland, the fields in the parcel of land would continue to be "a productive landscape" and parts of the site grazed.

Members of the community aimed to plant about 2,500 trees on Saturday at the first planting event, with more to follow in the coming months.

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