Leafield Parish Council is delighted to see the recent completion of a council-led hedge planting project in the Leafield Village Hall car park. The initiative, aimed at enhancing the local environment and creating a more attractive and sustainable space, whilst improving safety in the car park, was carried out by a team of dedicated volunteers from the local community.
Using native hedgerow whips to replace the old wooden car park barriers, the planting will not only improve the aesthetics of the car parking area, but will also benefit the biodiversity in the area by providing valuable wildlife habitats. The new hedging has the benefit of dividing up the car park and making it a safer area for users. The project was organised by the Parish Council, with support from residents who volunteered their time and energy to plant the new hedgerow whips throughout the car parking area.
The costs for the project were covered by the Parish Council, with additional funding via the Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE) in the form of a £1000 grant funded by Grundon Waste Management Limited, through the Landfill Communities Fund.
“The work of all these volunteers is very much appreciated. This was a great community-building effort, that will, in due course, result in some lovely hedging that will beautify and enhance our Village Hall car park”, said Parish Council Chair, Councillor Tom Butler.
Councillor Richard Shuttlewood added, “We had a fantastic turnout for the hedge planting, with fifteen volunteers involved in everything from planting the 350 whips, to making refreshments. A lovely and enjoyable sunny day with a background of birdsong and a great community spirit!”
The hedgerow planting is part of the Parish Council’s wish to promote sustainability and environmental stewardship within the village as part of making the Village Hall car park a safer space. The use of native varieties is particularly important as they are already well suited to the local climate and conditions, requiring less maintenance and providing long-term ecological benefits.
Residents and visitors to the Village Hall car park can look forward to watching the hedges grow and flourish over coming months and years.
Trust for Oxfordshire’s Environment (TOE) is a charity and a non-profit making company. TOE is helping local people restore nature, tackle the climate emergency and connect with Oxfordshire’s wild side. We’re Oxfordshire’s independent environmental funder. Our Local Environment Fund raises money and allocates grants for local projects that benefit wildlife, people and the planet.
TOE provides strategic support and funding for local communities who want to promote and improve the biodiversity of Oxfordshire’s wildlife habitats and increase access to the local countryside and green spaces. TOE is grateful for the continued support of Grundon Waste Management Ltd who support via the Landfill Communities Fund makes an important contribution to the sustainability of Oxfordshire’ s environment. TOE works with a range of other funders including individual supports, the Thames Valley Environmental Records Centre, local authorities and local businesses. If you have a local project that needs funding or if you would like to know how to provide support for TOE, please contact ben.taylor@trustforoxfordshire.org.uk.