A team of volunteers joined forces with Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council in sprucing up Basing Common.
On February 11 and 12, volunteers from Southern Electric’s Winchester Road offices in Basingstoke picked up their spades to plant hundreds of trees.
The two days were part of phase two of the Basingstoke Common Community Woodlands Project.
Phase one saw more than 1,000 trees planted in late November 2009 where 40 volunteers joined former Mayor of Basingstoke, Brian Gurden.
This year the borough council’s cabinet member for communities, sport and leisure, Cllr Clive Sanders, joined volunteers in lending a hand.
He said: “Over the last three years, local volunteers, tree wardens and the council's parks staff have planted more than 7,000 trees as part of the community woodland project.
“It’s great to see our local communities and businesses taking such an active role in improving the local environment.”
The aim of the community woodland project is to create a wildlife corridor between Crabtree Plantation and the fenland of Old Basing.
The new belt of trees will provide shelter and food for wild animals, birds and insects and create more interesting landscape for those who visit the common.
Southern Electric joined the borough council as part of their Communities At Heart scheme which encourages employees to volunteer in community events.
Tiffany Gibson-Gardner, who spearheaded the company’s team of volunteers, said: “We were wondering whether we could plant some trees ourselves, but then we heard about the borough council’s project, and we thought it was ideal for us.
“Many of us are keen on nature and the environment, we thought this was an ideal project in which to become involved.”
Tesco also pitched in, providing food and drinks for volunteers.
And despite driving wind and rain the volunteers were proud of their achievements.
Ms Gibson Gardner said: “It rained most of the time and we found it quite labour intensive, so we’re all pretty tired – and we’re also quite wet and muddy.
“But we’ve thoroughly enjoyed doing it. This part of the common looks completely changed now, so it’s really rewarding to know that our efforts will make such a difference.”
The council has had other tree planting pledges from Mencap and the Probation Trust.
