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<h2><span class="fontstyle0">Volunteers replant hundreds of young trees as part of Havant Thicket Reservoir project</span></h2>
<span class="fontstyle0">Local volunteers have been replanting hundreds of saplings around the edge of Portsmouth Water’s flagship Havant Thicket Reservoir site, near Leigh Park.</span>

<span class="fontstyle0">These young trees were “rescued” by volunteers from The Avenue woodland in 2022, before work on the reservoir scheme began.</span>

<span class="fontstyle0">More than 250 saplings, including hazel, holly, beech, hawthorn, oak and yew, as well as woodland plants like butchers broom, honeysuckle, celandines, foxgloves and cuckoo pint, were collected by volunteers from within the reservoir site and planted in biodegradable pots. For two years, the saplings were cared for in these pots before being replanted on the edge of the site of the new reservoir last week.</span>

<span class="fontstyle0">Woodland soils from the Avenue had already been transferred to the planting area by Portsmouth Water, with a high fence placed around the edge to create an enclosure to stop deer browsing.</span>

<strong><span class="fontstyle2">Leader of the local volunteer project, Tracey Viney, said:</span></strong>

<span class="fontstyle0">“It is great that the volunteers who originally rescued the saplings have now been able to return to the reservoir site with permission and support from Portsmouth Water staff to replant the young trees.</span>

<span class="fontstyle0">“The woodland plants were placed in a shady area, it is hoped that as the young trees grow up and create more shade, these plants will slowly spread across the enclosure. The new enclosure will help improve habitat connectivity for wildlife around the western edge of the reservoir site.”</span>

<strong><span class="fontstyle2">Bob Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, said:</span></strong>

<span class="fontstyle0">“Thank you so much to all the volunteers who worked hard to make this tree planting project such a success. We’re incredibly grateful for your continued support.”</span>

<span class="fontstyle0">“An important part of our environmental mitigation strategy is to create and enhance wildlife corridors around the perimeter of the reservoir site and the fantastic work by the volunteers will make a valuable contribution to help us deliver on this commitment.</span>

<span class="fontstyle0">“As part of the strategy, we’ve already planted more than 6000 trees and also committed to planting and improving more than 200 hectares of woodland and wood pasture, including rewilding 80 hectares of local farmland.”</span>

<span class="fontstyle0">Havant Thicket Reservoir will be the first major new reservoir to be constructed in the UK since 1980s. It will provide a new, sustainable source of water for the southeast, reducing the amount taken from Hampshire’s iconic chalk rivers.</span>

<span class="fontstyle0">More information about Havant Thicket Reservoir can be found on the project website: <a href="https://havant-thicket-reservoir.uk.engagementhq.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">https://havant-thicket-reservoir.uk.engagementhq.com/</a></span>