Winton Estate have been tree planting with help from Ormiston Primary School and supporters of Friends of the Earth.

Nearly 6,000 trees are being planted along the old railway line and River Tyne near Ormiston and to add to a roadside wood on the road to Tranent. 26 young helpers from the P7 class at Ormiston Primary planted around 10 trees each as they learnt about the 14 species and the local environment. Their teacher Kirsty Dunn commented, “Outdoor learning is an important part of our school and pupils had a chance to discuss the wildlife habitats being created while continuing to expand links with our local community”. Foresters Crawford, Gordon and Dougie with Douglas and Scott from the Winton team enjoyed being teachers for a morning with planting spades, tree guards and stakes.

Amongst the species planted are nearly 2,000 oak and 900 giant redwoods. The local Friends of the Earth East Lothian group team got stuck into the planting too; campaign organiser, Lorna Telford said “It will be good to return to the site in 10 years’ time and see this important wildlife corridor established”. The Winton Woods are actively managed for timber quality supplying local mills as well as for wildlife, recreation and amenity. The thinnings are used by Winton Woodfuel for firewood from the estate or woodchip for the estate biomass boiler.

Francis Ogilvy, owner of the woods, said ‘the river is a very important habitat for wildlife; hopefully this will grow to become a beautiful corridor and add to the extensive estate woodland path network already in use. It’s been great to get others excited and playing a part in their local environment’.

More information on Winton Estate is available on the web-site www.wintoncastle.co.uk or Julie Britee 01875340222