4:13pm Thursday 27th November 2008
By Chris Walker
Newly planted woodland could help alleviate flooding problems on the Oatlands Road recreation ground in West Oxford.
The Forest of Oxford, a charity which promotes tree planting, will this week finish putting in more than 320 trees on the site off Ferry Hinksey Road.
The land is frequently flooded after heavy rain, stopping sports activities for children from the nearby West Oxford Primary School.
The £1,500 scheme has seen 105 golden willow trees, 85 scarlet willow trees, 68 alders, 37 white willows, 25 silver poplars and three black poplars planted with assistance from pupils from the school.
Headteacher Julie St Clair Hoare said: “The children really liked planting these trees on the boundary of Oatlands Recreation Ground.
“They will be naming the three areas of trees and will help to maintain them.
“We think the trees will improve the environment and help to suck up the flood water which stops us using our field for sports.”
The scheme is the third woodland created by the Forest of Oxford after a 2,000 tree wood established in Cutteslowe four years ago and 3,000 trees planted in Kennington last year.
Forest of Oxford co-ordinator John Thompson said: “These trees have been known to suck up water and even if it only helps a bit, it will have been worth it.
“It is only these variety of trees that can grow with the conditions on the field. There is a whole raft of benefits from the woodland though. People who use the field to walk their dogs will have a much more interesting walk and the gold and red willows will bring a bit of colour to the area.
“It’s very good for wildlife and the other advantage is the trees reduce CO2 by locking up carbon.”
After setting up woodlands to the north, west and south of the city the organisation is now looking to pursue a similar scheme in Cowley to create a ring of woodlands around the city.
The organisation is also in talks with Windmill Primary School in Headington which could see up to 400 trees planted around its playing field, with a separate orchard full of fruit trees.
Mr Thompson said: “What we’d really like to do is ring the city with woodlands.
“We would very much like to have one in the Cowley area and we are investigating the possibility of having one in Headington.”
The trees planted in the West Oxford woodland are saplings but within 10 years could be 15 feet tall.
Oxford Lord Mayor and Jericho and Osney councillor Susanna Pressel said: “I think it will make a difference to the flooding. These trees do suck up a lot of water.”
cwalker@oxfordmail.co.uk
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