HAVE you ever wondered how many trees it took to build just one ship for Nelson’s fleet? Possibly not. The answer is a staggering 5000 mature oak trees, some of which were felled in Oxfordshire and floated down the river Thames to shipbuilders down stream.
This year is the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Admiral Nelson. To mark the occasion 27 new woods will be planted to commemorate each of the ships in Nelson?s fleet and to celebrate the important role British timber played in our naval heritage.
Members of Chinnor and Thame Friends of the Earth planted 35 oak trees this weekend in ‘Neptune Wood’ as part of Northmoor Trust in Long Wittenham near Didcot. By the end of this month, 10,215 trees will have been planted forging a link with the past by creating new landscapes for future generations to enjoy.
Maureen Dyroff, co-ordinator of the local group said: “We were delighted to have taken part in the planting of this new oak forest in Oxfordshire. The woods will bring great pleasure as well as having a positive effect on climate change, because trees absorb the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.”
Neptune Wood will be opened to the public next spring and there will be woodland trails with full disabled access, an oak arboretum, a woodland pond and an avenue of hornbeam.
If you would like to dedicate a tree in Neptune Wood, contact the Northmoor Trust 01865 407792.
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