NINETY acres of woodland – a home to disease-threatened ash trees – have been trimmed to make way for species native to the UK.
Conservation volunteers showed off tree-mendous newly-gained skills in cutting back the wood at Total Lindsey Oil Refinery.
The group, called Humber Conservation Volunteers (HCV), recently gained licences to operate chainsaws, and put them to good use.
One of them was Dave Heinrich, who said: "We felled trees such as non-native poplar and sycamore to allow native trees, including oak and ash, to grow successfully for the benefit of local wildlife. We can also use our chainsaws for hedge laying, still using traditional techniques but with a modern and much quicker way of doing it."
Kat Wetherell obtained her licence following a successful application for help under the Government's Destination Employment programme, run by NELC.
She said: "I spent a full week on a chainsaw course and a day's assessment. It was well worth it."
Behind all this training and activity is the Humber Industry Nature Conservation Association – known as Humber Inca for short – which works closely with local industries to look after wildlife around the estuary.
As reported, the deadly ash dieback disease spread through the UK, including Lincolnshire, this autumn. It can cause leaf loss and kill ash trees entirely.
The Government set out plans to control it, including keeping a ban on the import or movement of ash trees in place.
Kevin Lenthall, environmental co-ordinator at the refinery, said: "As a company, it means we can make sure this large woodland we own is actually maintained for wildlife and for the benefit of the local environment."
To get involved in practical nature conservation, telephone Humber INCA on 01652 631523 or e-mail alan.jones@humberinca.co.uk.
Keep up with HCV's activities by finding them on Facebook.
