WICKFORD will get greener from today with the planting of more than 1,000 new trees in the Memorial Park.
Some 1,500 saplings will be planted to create new woodland in the park on Rettendon View.
The trees will be introduced as part of the Woodland Trust's Jubilee Woods Project, in which six million saplings will be planted across the country.
This follows Basildon Borough Council's £1 million application for funding for the park to restore the Avenue of Remembrance, refurbish the offices and pavilion and improve access.
The park, which was created in 1949, is the largest of its kind in the UK and recently became home to a new war memorial.
John Tucker, director of woodland creation at the Woodland Trust, said: "The project has been incredibly successful in creating links with landowners such as Basildon Council to help us towards our aim of increasing native woodland cover across the country.
"It's also great to get the public out planting trees, hopefully providing them with an experience they will take away forever."
The project has been funded through the Forestry Commission's woodland grant scheme.
Steve Prewer, manager of countryside operations and development at Basildon Council, said: "The trees selected to be planted are ones which have natural provenance to this part of Essex.
"There will be English oak, wild cherry, hornbeam and crab apple trees to suit the clay soil.
"The planting, which will involve local school children, will be using young trees known as whips that are about a metre in height.
"The reason for starting with smaller trees is because the older they are the longer they take to establish themselves. If they're young they are very quick to establish.
"There will be footpaths running through the area so that visitors can enjoy the wildlife and evolving woods first hand."
Hilltop Junior School, on Hill Avenue, will be taking part in the planting as well as Wickford Junior School, on Market Road.
Jo Lane, spokesman for Hilltop Junior School, said: "We are delighted to be involved and will be taking the gardening committee on the day. The group involves 21 pupils from Years Three to Six and at the moment we are creating our own garden in the school.
"They are very excited and are looking forward to getting their wellies on and starting the planting."
Councillor Kevin Blake, cabinet member for leisure and arts at Basildon Council, said: "This project follows the recent announcement of plans to restore the park.
"The plans will see improvements made to the facilities on offer within the park, and this project will complement this by improving the ecology of the area.
"It's great that local schools have been able to get involved through the Jubilee Woods project, and I hope they will continue to engage as the wider park improvements take shape."
