Volunteers needed for tree planting at new community woodland

Volunteers are invited to take part in guided tree-planting sessions to plant 3,800 saplings at a new community woodland being created in memory of a Frome woman.

The planting sessions will take place on land at Spring Gardens between Monday 2 and Sunday 8 March. The woodland is being created in memory of Frome resident and nature lover Moko Sellars, who died aged 39 in 2022. The project is supported by a crowdfunder organised by her friends and family, which raised £25,000.

Frome Town Council has worked with Seed Landscape Design on planning and preparation and a 99-year lease to the land has been granted to the council free of charge by the landowners.

With groundwork now complete, local residents, schools and community groups are encouraged to sign up for two-hour planting sessions throughout the week.

James Hamilton of Seed Landscape Design said, “We’re really pleased to have reached this important milestone in the creation of the woodland. It will be a fantastic space for the whole community, offering a tranquil and accessible place for play and relaxation and a fitting tribute to our friend Moko, who would have loved it here. Planting 3,800 trees is no small undertaking, so please sign up for a slot between Monday 2nd and Sunday 8th March and help us create something truly remarkable.”

Frome Town Council’s Environment Manager Rob Holden said, “Planting a tree is always a positive, hopeful act – doing it on this scale represents a really exceptional moment in Frome’s history, and we want the whole community to be part of it.”

Getting there

There is no parking available on site. Volunteers are asked to arrive on foot or park nearby and walk to the woodland. Access is via Spring Gardens and a location map and arrival information will be sent by email to everyone who books a session.

The session times are Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd March, 10am, 12.30pm and 2pm; Wednesday 4th, Thursday 5th and Friday 6th March, 2pm; and Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th March, 10am and 12.30pm.

All ages are welcome and no experience or tools are needed — training and equipment will be provided on the day.

Volunteers are encouraged to bring their own gardening gloves if they have them, dress for the weather and wear wellies or walking boots. Refreshments will be available all day and there will be toilets on site. Please book one ticket per participant, even if you are coming as a group.

Booking is essential, as any changes due to weather conditions will be communicated by email each day.

School groups will receive a separate invitation to attend planting sessions. Anyone else wishing to take part can book a place at https://bit.ly/planting-spring-gardens.