HUNDREDS of small trees are to be planted in Fordingbridge to benefit wildlife and increase biodiversity.

Fordingbridge Town Council’s amenities committee discussed proposals put forward by Fordingbridge Greener Living to plant trees.

Councillor Anna Wilson said the trees included silver birch, hawthorn, wild cherry and hazel, and would be planted close together in a small area.

The meeting heard the trees would be expected to reach maturity within ten to 20 years and the intention was to start planting them in February.

A representative from Fordingbridge Greener Living said: “We plan on planting the trees within a square metre which is quite dense. If you plant them in a dense area it increases biodiversity more than just planting ornamental trees in single locations so in quite a small footprint we’ll be able to massively increase biodiversity in the areas that they have been planted.”

He told the meeting this type of planting, which is referred to as tiny forest, was quite popular in Europe and was based on a Japanese planting method in urban areas, which had benefits for wildlife, providing screening from road noise and reducing pollution.

“We do have 450 of these whips, small trees, the intention is to plant roughly 200 in the 65 square metres that we have discussed in the town. There is scope to plant another 250 and further if needs be,” he said.

“It’s all about the concept of bringing the forest into the town and making it really a continuation of the forest and the biodiversity that we have and bringing wildlife back and those types of things that we need to do for the future moving forward.”

Cllr Wilson said: “If it was successful and they were left alone we could look at some other places. We would like NFDC [New Forest District Council] to look at some of their spaces as well.”

Councillors voted in favour of supporting the planting subject to locations being agreed.