As a site of 15 acres, we are proud to be home to a diverse range of tree species and varying sizes of forestry habitats. We strive as a team to always work with these habitats for the benefit of both the local ecology and our site.
Trees are a great resource not only for ecology, air purification and soil stabilisation but also have a huge benefit to the customers we welcome on site. The mental and physical health benefits that trees and forests provide are a great incentive for our green community to get involved in our site’s woodlands.
During our winter 2024 season, we set the aim to try and plant some more trees and appropriately manage the ones we already have on site. Through work and networking with The Woodland Trust one of our instructors managed to successfully apply for the moreWoods scheme through the Woodland Trust and at the onset of 2025, the LOPC planting project was confirmed. We have been so lucky that through this grant we were awarded 600 saplings that were delivered in November and have been planted through some amazing efforts from our community of volunteers and the general public.
But for us this is just the start!
These saplings will provide some great soft engineered and eco-conscious flood management, through the mix of tree species like willow and alder (which have a high water uptake). They will also work through a strong root system to provide some necessary bank restoration and stabilisation across the perimeter of our site that banks the River Soar.
This project has been possible through the work and efforts of the Canal and River Trust, Ministry of Justice, a select team here at LOPC, our Wild Women’s Group and of course the brilliant moreWoods program through the Woodland Trust.
Thank you to all involved and follow us for more updates, conservation projects and tree related events here at LOPC!
