Large turn out for tree planting session on Bristol Bath Railway Path

Earlier this week over 100 people turned up to take part in a major tree planting session on the Bristol to Bath Railway Path. More than 50 oak, apple and pear, field maple, native cherry, hornbeam and English hawthorn trees were planted to replace a number of dying, damaging or dangerous trees which were recently removed as part of a Cycling City project.

Bristol City Council organised the event which was attended by local residents, school children and employees from Bespoke, a computer software company based in Filton.

Jon Rogers, Executive Members for Transport and Sustainability, said: "I was impressed by the hard work of officers and local people taking part. I was also able to see the reasons for removing some existing trees as we appropriately manage our woodland environment. I saw where trees were destroying retaining walls, preventing the lighting of the railway path or even in danger of splitting and falling onto cyclists or pedestrians using the path.  It was great to see that a lot of new trees have been planted on and around the Railway Path over the last two years."

New tree planting sessions are being paid for with Cycling City funding as part of a project to install lighting along Bristol Bath Railway Path, which will help to make the path safer to cycle at night time. The first planting session was held in late 2009 and more planting sessions will take place in 2011 and 2012.

To find out about more community tree planting sessions visit Bristol City Council's Tree Bristol page.