Tree-mendous planting effort bears fruit for The Hub in Barnard Castle

A TREE planting project has borne fruit thanks to an enterprising bunch of Teesdale youngsters.

Nine girls from Cockfield planted no fewer than 27 trees at the TCR Hub, in Barnard Castle, last week with a bit of help from volunteer Graham Moore.

The team planned out where each of the trees would grow and which species they would buy, before mucking in and planting them around the Hub’s grounds.

Teesdale YMCA joined forces with the International Tree Foundation and its “Fruit-full Communities” project to help carry out the project.

The Learning Through Landscapes charity led the scheme alongside The Orchard Project to get kids to think about the natural environment and learn about the importance of trees.

The project has gone on for a number of months and last week’s planting marked the third workshop in the five phase scheme.

Carla Bolton, from Teesdale YMCA, said quite a lot had happened behind the scenes.

She added: “They’ve gone through the different types of trees – they went on the internet in Cockfield to see which trees would be suitable.”

Apple trees, pear trees, cherry trees and apricot trees were just of the different varieties planted.

A bench with a plaque is also in the pipeline to cap off the project.

Rosina Gilboy, from the International Tree Foundation, said: “They have acquired fantastic teamwork and communication skills as well as thinking about the economics of the project.”

The project’s final stage and grand finale will take place at the Hub next month with a number of events and attractions planned.