Joining forces to spruce up Rugby park

Volunteers joined forces to plant dozens of saplings at Hillmorton Recreation Ground.

Scores of saplings were planted at the Hillmorton Recreation Ground in Featherbed Lane after councillors and volunteers from the Friends of East Rugby Group (FERG) successfully secured donations of hundreds of plants from the Woodland Trust.

The planting was planned by the council’s parks and grounds team, and Warwickshire Wildlife Trust’s Deborah Wright, Rugby’s hedgehog officer, in a bid to create a hedgehog-friendly habitat.

Deborah, who lent a hand at the recent planting session, said: “We know hedgehogs have been spotted in nearby gardens, and the planting should increase shelter and improve connectivity for these local ‘hogs.

“Working in partnership with the council and with such an enthusiastic community has been a great experience and a positive step towards helping wildlife in Hillmorton.”

The hedgerow planting session followed a community bulb planting event at the recreation ground in November, when volunteers planted crocuses donated by the council.

Jim Ellis, chair of FERG, said: “FERG is all about locals getting stuck in, forming friendships and a sense of community.

“It’s about supporting initiatives which improve our social spaces, so planting the trees and bulbs is a great start for this fledgling group.

“We’re looking forward to lots more community events in the future and are always on the look out for more members from across the community.”

Volunteers from FERG and the Rotary Club of Rugby Dunsmore were joined at the planting session by Hillmorton ward borough councillors Kathryn Lawrence and David Cranham, and county councillor Yousef Dahmash.

Cllr Lawrence said: “Helping to maintain and improve Hillmorton’s green spaces is important to us and we were delighted so many volunteers helped to plant the saplings donated by the Woodland Trust.

“Working together, we can all play a part in maintaining and improving Hillmorton Recreation Ground for the benefit of all who use it for sport and recreation.”

The council now plans to work with the volunteers to explore opportunities for further improvements to the recreation ground, including the creation of a wildflower meadow in the spring.