The community in Ruyton XI Towns have just finished planting a new woodland area which will become a beautiful space for the community and which has also supported Hope House Children’s Hospices at the same time.

The woodland area was made possible thanks to the joint efforts of local farmer, Simon Gittins, Pentons Haulage and Cold Storage, members of the local community, Ruyton XI Towns Parish Council and St Johns The Baptist C Of E Primary School.

Very kindly Luke Penton cleared the land, prepared the ground for planting and laid the paths. Simon Gittins paid for the trees which came from the Woodland Trust and from the Dingle Nursery. Ruyton XI Towns Parish Council supported the project throughout and will finance the ongoing maintenance of the trees.

Together the local community planted around 300 native trees (oak, horse chestnut, maple, rowan, crab apple, apple, hawthorn and cobnut) and the children from the local primary school got their hands dirty planting around 100 silver birch.

It was decide to plant 11 Oak Trees that were already 6' high, one for each of the 11 towns of Ruyton XI Towns. It was decided to seek donations from the community for these trees and many individuals made a £50 for each of the trees, raising £550 for Hope House.