Youngsters joined forces with a community volunteer group to help plant trees and enjoy a nature walk.

Barningham Net Zero Community Interest Company has been carrying out tree and hedge planting over the past three winters.

This year, planting has been undertaken along the boundaries of a field known as the Bull Acre, which is owned by the parish, between Barnard Castle and Richmond.

On Friday, 33 children aged from four to 14 from Seventh Darlington Sea Scouts, came with their leaders and parents for a day visit to Barningham.

All had an opportunity to plant some trees and do a nature walk, followed by a hot lunch and tree-themed activities in Barningham Village Hall.

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Mike Peach, a Barningham Net Zero director, said: “The children were a credit to their Scout troop, their parents and themselves.” 

Darlington and Stockton Times:

The Bull Acre is a field to the north of Barningham, which has been owned by the parish since at least the 18th Century. Historically, the tenant was responsible for providing a parish bull for the use of village farmers. By 1968, it was agreed that demand for the bull was negligible and the requirement for keeping one was abandoned. It is now used for grazing of four rams.

The new planting at the Bull Acre includes a copse of 150 trees along the east side and a 100-metre hedge along the north boundary. The plantings are mixed deciduous species with the copse consisting of oak, hornbeam, aspen, silver birch, field maple, rowan and wild cherry. The work complements plantings undertaken in an adjacent field in 2022 to provide new habitat corridors.

The Barningham planting group started under the tutelage of Trees for Teesdale, organised by Geoff and Carole King, who have helped a number of local village groups and are currently working with Barnard Castle School.

The Bull Acre planting work was funded by Durham County Council from the Neighbourhood Budgets of local councillors George Richardson and James Rowlandson, and the National Lottery Community Fund.

Barningham Net Zero (www.barninghamnetzero.com) formed in April 2020, the primary aim being to reduce energy costs for local residents and businesses and work towards a net zero carbon footprint for the village, along with activities which have an environmental benefit.