A new community woodland at Spring Gardens, in memory of Frome resident Moko Sellars has taken a significant step forward, with more than 650 people, including community groups and schoolchildren, helping to plant 3,800 saplings at the site. Tree varieties include common alder, goat willow, black poplar, English oak, European hornbeam and field maple, all native to the UK and chosen for their suitability to the terrain. At the centre of the woodland is a clearing, where a memorial tree to Moko has been planted by her friends and family.
The woodland project is a partnership between the landowners, who have granted a 99-year lease to the land free of charge, Frome Town Council and Moko Sellars’ friends and family, who raised £25,000 to create the woodland in her memory. James Hamilton of Bath-based SEED Landscape Design was among her close friends and created the design for the woodland.
James Hamilton a Landscape Architect and friend of Moko, who started the GoFundme for the woodland four years ago, said: “The idea started with a few trees planted in memory of a beloved friend to something much bigger than one person, a woodland project that has brought the entire community together from schools, volunteer groups, people passionate about our environment and Moko’s family and friends. A project I feel Moko would have been happy to be a part of and a catalyst for which has created a sanctuary for people and wildlife for generations to come.”
Cllr Mark Dorrington said “This has been a truly incredible community effort – and no small feat of logistics. The site was divided into squares and the location of every tree determined in advance, marked by a colour-coded cane – very clever stuff, all thanks to SEED Landscape’s expertise. All that was needed was people to do the planting, in a crucial window of time – and Frome provided. Thank you to everyone who came along and got muddy, and thank you so much to the weather for cheering up, just in time. Thank you to Moko Sellars’ friends and family for raising the funds to plant the trees; and of course thank you to our fantastic ranger team for all their hard work before, during and after, in making this project a reality.”
Everyone who took part in the planting took home a ‘what 3 words’ reference for the square they helped to plant, meaning they can return to the exact location of the trees they planted in the future.
A representative of one of the six school groups who participated said “It was a fantastic experience for the pupils, and it is lovely to know that they have contributed to creating an area that the local community and visitors will be able to enjoy for many years to come.”
With the planting complete, Frome Town Council is keen to hear residents’ thoughts about proposed play equipment at the site, woven into the landscape in a similar way to the woodland play area at Welshmill. The new My Frome platform has details of possible equipment and photos of similar installations elsewhere. Residents can browse the designs and vote for their favourites on My Frome.
