Help create UKs largest man-made forest

The Woodland Trust is hoping to build the countrys largest man-made forest in Hertfordshire, with 90,000 trees to be planted before March.

So far, more than 20,000 are in the ground at the Heartwood Forest site near St Albans, after scouts, army cadets and other volunteers worked for an hour as part of the recent Tree OClock Challenge.

However, the organisation is looking for more helpers to work towards creating the 850-acre woodland, which will reconnect three ancient bluebell woods, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) reported.

When completed, it is hoped that the mix of native broadleaf varieties – such as field maple, oak, goat willow and wild cherry – will attract walkers, cyclists, horse-riders and conservationists to the area.

In other news, the RHS is mourning the passing of internationally renowned gardener Princess Greta Sturdza, who died recently aged 94.