REPRESENTATIVES of 39 groups from in and around Dingwall have a growing interest in the success of a community woodland venture which marked a historic milestone last week.

The first trees of the new Dingwall Community Woodland – which also commemorates the Queen’s 70th jubilee – were planted at a joyous event which saw people converge at the planting site at two sessions on Friday and Saturday last week.

Organisers say the future woodland and the process to create it will have huge benefits for the community in and around Dingwall.

Having the first trees planted by the community itself, including the youngest members, made the event particularly special.

Hannah Fraser-MacLean, who attended with her son to represent Croileagan, Dingwall’s Gaelic nursery, said: “It was such a happy event full of community spirit! It was an honour to be a part of something so positive that can be enjoyed by, and will help look after, the future generations in Dingwall.”

As well as marking the launch of tree planting, the event also commemorated the Queen’s 70th jubilee.

Across the two mornings 70 trees, representing these 70 years, were planted by members of the community including the Lieutenancy of Ross and Cromarty, schools and nurseries from the town, as well as a resident of Fodderty House Care Home.

This is part of a wider jubilee celebration called The Queen’s Green Canopy.

The tree protectors that were put around each tree were beautifully decorated by the pupils of Dingwall Primary School, adding even more colour to the event.

Work to create the Community Woodland is well under way. The group was recently awarded funding from the North Highlands & Islands Community Infrastructure Support Programme to start path design work to create an all-access path into the field.

Deer fencing will be erected around the field later this year and soon after there will be lots of opportunities for the community to come along and plant many more trees to create the Dingwall Community Woodland.

A full list of the groups who planted the first trees of the woodland will be made available on the group’s new website launching this spring.

To be notified of this, and other updates and ways to get involved in the project, follow the group’s Facebook page or Instagram account.

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