PARISH councillors have teamed up with residents in North Swindon to plant almost 500 trees in a bid to spruce up the area and protect the environment.

The day saw a mammoth turnout – even local scout groups took part – with volunteers braving the wet and windy conditions to plant 480 saplings in less than two hours.

Coun Linda Brown, chairman of the Haydon Wick Parish Council, said: “I am very pleased that the parish council was able to purchase one of the few remaining undeveloped fields in the parish for the benefit of the whole community. The tree planting is the start of making this field a legacy for future generations, old and young, to enjoy.”

Haydon Wick Parish Council bought a 7.5 acre field in Tadpole Lane in North Swindon in 2014/15 with the aim of providing community facilities.

Following a series of meetings between councillors and residents, a number of proposals were agreed. The first involved the planting of 480 saplings donated by the Woodland Trust to the 1st Swindon Sea Scouts.

Coun Ellen Baker Lee, chairman of the parish council’s communications committee, said: “The council is committed to supporting community groups for the benefit of the whole community.

“We were excited about this project, which has been very successful and we look forward to hearing from other groups and individuals about their ideas to improve the quality of our environment.”

A spokesman from the 1st Swindon Sea Scouts commented on how much of a pleasure it was to work with the Haydon Wick Parish Council and how willing local residents were to come together and show a lively community spirit.

This is the first of many proposals to be implemented on Tadpole Field, and there are plans in the new year to install other facilities that will provide easy to access allotments for Haydon Wick residents in the north of the parish.

There are also plans to construct an open area in which outdoor events can be held, with the parish council working closely with the Swindon and Cricklade Railway to provide parking on the field.

It is also hoped that direct access to the railway can be accessed via a bridge, which will help to promote attendance at railway events.

This is all part of the parish council’s commitment to protecting and nurturing the open spaces in the parish.

The Tadpole Lane space is just one of many important areas of parkland in the parish. Others include the Seven Fields Nature Reserve, Clifford Meadow in Oakhurst and Mouldon Hill Country Park, which is situated off Thamesdown Drive.