Pupils will dig deep in bypass planting

Nov 28 2008 by Tony Henderson, The Journal

THINKING local helped growers land the job of supplying around 56,000 trees and shrubs to help a new bypass blend into the Northumbrian landscape.

The A69 Haydon Bridge Bypass is costing £30m and is expected to be completed by next spring.

The 1.8-mile route will relieve congestion and heavy traffic levels which Haydon Bridge residents have to endure as the A69 runs through the village.

But the Highways Agency also wants to lessen the impact of the new road in the Tyne Valley and create habitats for wildlife.

The planting programme includes 214 large trees for a quick effect, 66 willows, 21,760 hedgerow plants, 28,641 woodland trees and 5,168 shrubs.

The contract went to Trees Please nursery at Dilston Haugh Farm, near Corbridge.

General manager Ed Holmes said that much of the stock is grown from locally-collected seed – including a ton of hawthorn berries.

And the Highways Agency was looking for specimens with a local origin.

The planting season begins in November and Mr Holmes said: “In the current climate, it was a nice order at the start of the season.”

The nursery uses 100 acres and supplies around 2.5 million trees and shrubs a year for landscaping projects and to landowners and farmers. Every child at Shaftoe First School in Haydon Bridge is being given the opportunity to help with the planting.

Graham Dakin, project manager at the Highways Agency, said: “There are so many trees, shrubs and hedgerow plants that need to go in to help complete the work on the A69 bypass.

“We thought it would be an interesting project for the school to get involved in, and would help pupils understand more about the work that has been going on to build the new road.

“The school and its community have been big supporters of the work so it’s nice to give them a chance to get more actively involved.”

Head teacher Audrey Cox said: “Class groups will go up to the site in relays so that every child has the chance to get involved.

“And when back in the classroom, we’ll look at the different species of trees being planted and how trees and wood are used to make other things.”

The native tree and shrub species to be planted include hazel, hawthorn, holly, wild rose, guilder rose, blackthorn, ash, crabapple, oak, birch, alder, willow, bird cherry and whitebeam and have been supplied by a nursery in Corbridge.

Mr Dakin said: “Planting trees is very much of what we do.

“We are not creating a corridor but are using the planting on either side of the bypass to help it blend into the landscape.”

Badger fencing will also be installed to prevent the animals becoming road casualties.

Class groups will go up to the site in relays so that every child has the chance to get involved