A hedge and tree planting day at Elwell Woods in Saltash, Cornwell on February 16 will see local volunteers continue the transformation of the area, as preparations continue for the arrival of the Cornish Cross.
Cornwall Wildlife Trust will be working with a group of volunteers to plant a 100m long perimeter hedge around Elwell Woods. The hawthorn, blackthorn and broadleaved hedging will encourage wild birds to nest in the area. A variety of native trees and shrubs will also be planted through the woodland.
Anyone interested in helping can come along from 10am-3pm on Saturday February 16. Volunteers must wear suitable clothing, including boots and work gloves. Refreshments and pasties will be provided.
This will be the latest in a series of volunteer days that are transforming Elwell Woods. Saltash Waterfront Resident’s Association (SWRA) initiative will turn the former wasteland into a wooded area complete with fitness equipment, picnic areas, a small orchard and a 20 metre high Cornish Cross.
Further volunteer days are planned for Saturdays in March – planting the orchard on the 2nd, and building and installing bird and bat boxes on the 23rd.
Joe Ellison, Project Leader for SWRA, said: “With the help of our volunteers, we are transforming this previously forgotten area into a beautiful place to visit with stunning views and, when the Cornish Cross is in place, one of Cornwall’s most important landmarks.”
The 20-metre cross, designed by Cornish sculptor, Simon Thomas, is in the final stage of fabrication at Newquay Airport, made from leading edge aerospace materials such as glass and carbon fibre to resemble copper.
SWRA believes the Cornish Cross will become the ‘gateway to Cornwall’ and will become as firmly fixed on the tourist map as the Angel of the North, attracting visitors to the area and boosting the local economy.
Elwell Woods, including the Cornish Cross, is a Community Spaces Flagship project. Additional funding and support has come from Cornwall Council, Saltash Town Council and the Duchy of Cornwall.
