Grab a pine, you’ve pulled! (From Smallholder)

Grab a pine, you’ve pulled!

8:10am Tuesday 6th December 2011 in Conservation

An ambitious heathland restoration project saw lots of visitors going home with a sustainable Christmas tree as the RSPB kick-started the festive period this weekend.

Members of the public were invited to join in ‘pine tree pulling’ for a few hours, and in return were given a local, sustainable tree helping them to save money and help wildlife at the same time.

Visitors to the ‘Pull a Pine’ event at the RSPB’s Arne nature reserve in Dorset came in their droves to help manage the heathland.

A craft stall encouraged ‘workers’ to take breaks making natural decorations to hang on their alternative trees. Food and refreshments were locally sourced to make this a really inspiring conservation event.

The ‘Pull A Pine’ project is a new way to help ongoing heathland restoration.

Information Officer Paul Morton said; ‘Every year we have to remove hundreds of small pines from the precious heathland by hand. If left, these pines will eventually take over and we will lose this highly bio-diverse habitat.’ The RSPB are working to maintain and enhance the heath for the benefit of birds such as Dartford warblers, woodlarks and nightjars, as well as other wildlife such as smooth snakes. The trees removed are from non-native plantation pines that self seed on many lowland heathland areas. The removal of them is essential to maintain and restore the heathland habitat for these and many other species.

Paul said; ‘at this time when we are all feeling the pinch in our wallets, we are really pleased to offer local, sustainable, cheap ways to make Christmas special. It is great that the spirit of Christmas will carry on benefiting wildlife for much longer’.

Other RSPB nature reserves undergoing heathland restoration work are at Farnham Heath in Surrey and The Lodge in Bedfordshire. For more Christmas gift ideas that will help wildlife, please visit www.rspbshop.co.uk