Last

Saturday, 5 December, saw a fantastic turnout of local landowners and community

groups across North Devon’s Biosphere taking part in an attempt to break

the world record for the number of trees planted in one hour across the

country. The local initiative was organised by the Northern Devon Coast and

Countryside Service together with the BBC’s Breathing Places campaign.

Impressed with

the number of people involved, Tom Hynes, from North Devon's Biosphere Reserve

said: "I was delighted to see such a huge response to this world record

breaking attempt.  One of the most exciting things is the long term

benefit that will be brought about by one hour's hard work.  Across the

Biosphere Reserve, many new woodlands have been planted, which will

be great for the landscape of the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and

great for people and wildlife".

Amongst

those taking part was Wings South West, which works with young people in North

Devon including providing opportunities for young people not in education,

employment or training. They planted just over 200 trees in the North Devon

Coast Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty as part of the AONB’s 50th

anniversary celebrations.

Commenting

on the rural initiative Fraser Marchbank, Youth and Conservation Worker from

Wings South West said, “We are really pleased to have been able to participate in

this event and include volunteers from all walks of life. It’s been a

great day and we are all proud to be able to leave a positive legacy for our

community and environment."

Rose Day, the

North Devon Coast AONB Chairman added: "Tree planting makes an important

contribution to the environment of North Devon, and the North Devon Coast Areas

of Outstanding Natural Beauty is delighted that Wings and the Biosphere

Reserve helped celebrate the AONB's 50th anniversary

by staging this exciting attempt on the world record."

Landowners

and community groups across North Devon’s Biosphere Reserve were invited

to apply for up to 200 free trees each including oak, ash, hazel and alder

saplings. Since there was a limited number of trees available, each application

was assessed for the benefits the planting would bring to people, wildlife and

the landscape. 

For

the world record breaking attempt the trees had to be planted between 11am and

midday on Saturday, 5 December.  The aim was to beat the previous record

of 653,143 trees by planting over a million in one hour at multiple locations

throughout the country.

The

North Devon Coast AONB was designated on 10 September 1959 and confirmed on 25

May 1960 in recognition of its stunning coastal landscape, which is of national

and international importance. The spectacular stretch covers some 66 square

miles from the boundary of Exmoor National Park at Combe Martin to Marsland

Mouth on the Cornish border. For fifty years the Partnership has protected and

conserved the area and will honour this landmark birthday with a series of

events highlighting the different aspects of life, culture, history and wildlife

across the region from September 2009 to May 2010.  For more information

visit www.northdevon-aonb.org.uk.