Work is progressing well to create a new woodland habitat for Lincoln thanks to funding from the Government’s Levelling Up Parks Fund, support from the Woodland Trust and City of Lincoln Council.
In 2022, the city council’s Executive approved the creation of Hope Wood on council-owned land, which sits between Simon’s Hill allotments and the River Witham.
Working with partners and advisors, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and the Woodland Trust, the aim was to take a field previously let for grazing and to enhance the existing biodiversity through thoughtful planting of thousands of trees and shrubs.
For the first phase of the project, the Woodland Trust supplied the city council with 800 trees and 400 shrubs, which have now been planted.
Now, with the help of corporate volunteer groups, including those from BT call Centre, Fenner Precision/Dawsons and Delta Simons have completed work on fencing, hedge planting and tree planting.
In total, 74 different volunteers have worked with teams at City of Lincoln Council to transform the area, totalling 656 volunteer hours.
Plans are also being made with volunteers for further tree planting in Autumn 2023.
For the wider community, events have also been set up to promote the new Hope Wood. These activities include:
- 27 July, 10am – 11.30am: Bug Hunt – Learn about some cool creepy crawlies, booking essential (£3.70)
- 3 August, 10am – 11.30am: Butterfly Bonanza – Join the Park Rangers and learn how to find our fluttering friends, booking essential (£3.70)
- 31 August, 10am – 11.30am: Bug Box Hotel – Make your own insect hotel and provide a home for a creepy crawly friend, booking essential (£3.70)
To book any of these events, please contact Lisa Blezzard by emailing Lisa.Blezzard@lincoln.gov.uk or call 01522 873735.
Cllr Bob Bushell, Portfolio Holder for Remarkable Place at City of Lincoln Council said: “Hope Wood will create a higher quality green space that should generate even greater pride in the city’s green spaces by local people.
“An awful lot of work has already gone into this project from local corporate volunteers and our staff to truly transform the area.
“Although the site will take a few years to establish fully, we have already seen some fantastic results as wildflowers have blossomed and wildlife has flourished.
“Our special thanks go to all those who have provided advice and assistance so far, including the Environment Agency, Upper Witham IDB, Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust and our sponsor for many of the trees, the Woodland Trust.”
Organisations interested in being a part of the Hope Wood project can find out more by emailing aaron.wilson@lincoln.gov.uk