More than two hundred people turned out to help us clear Scots pine saplings from Farnham Heath in its second annual Pull-a-pine event.
What do we mean by pulling a pine? Literally that. We invited people to help maintain heathland at Farnham while having physical fun; yanking young saplings from the ground or sawing down larger ones. The pine trees that spring up on the heath come from the vast conifer plantation that once covered this reserve. Before that it was all heathland for hundreds of years and we’re restoring it to that natural state. Heathland supports rare and diverse birds, reptiles and bugs and is one of the most threatened habitats worldwide. We've lost 80% of the UK's lowland heathland since 1800 along with much of the wildlife it support.
Volunteers cleared thousands of saplings and then got the opportunity to choose their favourites to take home and decorate. The Farnham Heath project has been running for more than ten years, with the aim of maintaining the beautiful heathland which once covered the Surrey Hills. If left unattended the land will be quickly colonised by birch and pine saplings and eventually the whole area will become forest.
Charlotte Bartlett, Assistant Warden at Farnham & Hazeley Reserves said: "Not only are there benefits for the local wildlife, but it’s also great exercise and very satisfying when the pines pop out the ground. It saves you money and helps us out, so it’s a win-win situation!”
BBC Breakfast reporter Tim Muffett came along to find out more about heathland and its importance for wildlife. He pulled a pine which he promised to take home on the bus for the presenters back in the studio. We'll be repeating the event next year and look forward to welcoming more people to the heath.
Here are a few images recording the event: