Preserving Lancing Ring for future generations

Adur District Council’s parks team are being joined by volunteers of all ages and backgrounds over the coming weeks, as part of what is believed to be the area’s largest tree-planting exercise in recent years.

More than 4,000 trees and dozens of plants are being planted across the local nature reserve, covering five hectares of land - the equivalent of roughly seven football pitches - to replace felled trees and create new areas for nature.

A total of 2,850 are being supplied by The Tree Council, a charity on a mission to care for trees and our planet’s future, in partnership with National Highways as part of their joint 3 Million Trees Project, which is donating up to 600,000 trees annually for the next five years.

The trees, including alder, hornbeam, oak, sweet chestnut and Scots pine were donated following a successful application by the council, which is funding the remaining trees as part of its commitment to preserve the local nature reserve.

Lancing Ring has suffered in recent years from ash dieback - a chronic fungal disease that has been slowly killing ash trees in the UK and across Europe. It considerably weakens trees and results in crown dieback, which eventually renders the tree unsafe.

The council has been felling ash trees clearly affected by the disease to ensure public woodland paths remain safe. As ash is one of the most common trees in West Sussex, this sadly means the area’s woodlands have suffered more than most.

While ash dieback will continue to affect Lancing Ring for the years ahead, the conclusion of the council’s latest felling operation means that replanting can now get underway.

The council is contributing 1,300 of its own trees to the Lancing Ring project, including hazel, walnut, birch, larch, apple, pear and Douglas fir, to increase biodiversity and resilience in the woodland. This follows the development of the local authority’s new tree planting policy, which forms part of its recently adopted Vision for Nature report.

Businesses, local children and volunteers are donating some of their time to help the council’s parks team plant the thousands of trees at the local nature reserve over the coming weeks.

Councillor Andy Harvey, Adur’s cabinet member for the environment and leisure, said: “This is a hugely positive moment for Lancing Ring, for the wildlife it supports and for everyone who values this special nature reserve.

“While ash dieback has had a devastating impact on its woodlands in recent years, this large-scale replanting effort shows our long-term commitment to restoring and protecting the area for future generations.

‘I’d like to thank the volunteers, young and old, who are supporting our teams with the planting effort, and can’t wait to see the trees grow over the coming years.

The volunteer sessions are being supported by Tree Action, a not-for-profit community interest company that organises and raises funds for tree-planting projects in schools, colleges or on public land. It aims to connect young people with the environment to support their wellbeing and connect them with the natural environment.

The first trees have been planted as part of the project, and the council looks forward to seeing thousands more lay new roots this winter.