Thousands of new trees to be planted in Verulamium Park; extensive new wildflower meadows to be created
More than 4,400 new trees are to be planted at Verulamium Park in St Albans and new wildflower meadows created.
Work on the major project, at the former nine-hole golf course adjacent to Abbey View Athletics Track, is already underway.
The aim is to enhance the park’s biodiversity and provide a natural habitat for a wide variety of wildlife including birds, bees and other insects.
In addition, the trees will help improve the local environment as trees keep the atmosphere rich in oxygen and counter harmful emissions.
The project is being run by the park’s owners, St Albans City and District Council (SADC), in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council’s Countryside Management Service (CMS).
Volunteers from Friends of Verulamium Park and CMS are helping to plant the trees and seed the meadows.
Councillor Jacqui Taylor, SADC’s Lead for Sustainability and Climate, and Councillor Helen Campbell, Chair of the Public Realm Committee and Lead for Parks, visited the project and helped with the tree planting.
They were joined by Councillor Sandy Walkington, Vice-Chair of Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) and its official representative at the event.
Cllr Taylor said:
One of our priorities as a Council is to tackle the climate emergency and support nature. Trees have a vital role to play, providing oxygen, filtering pollutants from the air as well as diversifying habitat.
One of the many actions we are taking to improve the environment is to plant thousands more trees across the District and this project is a vivid demonstration of that commitment.
I was extremely impressed with the work that is going on in the park and the enthusiasm of the volunteers who are supporting this project.
Many thanks go to them as well as our partners at Countryside Management Service and Network Rail for providing some funding.
The project will connect the existing woodlands and individual trees whilst creating a more natural transition between tree and meadow areas. The new tree and wildflower areas will take up around one hectare.
All trees and shrubs will be native such as Oak, Hazel and Rowan, and a diverse mix has been selected to maximise the biodiversity.
Wildflower meadow areas have been prepared and seeded to increase the biodiversity of the grassland. The species of flowers include Bird’s-foot Trefoil, Field Scabious and Ox-eye Daisy.
The project was developed as part of the Verulamium Park Greenspace Action Plan and managed by CMS.
Funding has come from HCC, Verulamium Park Community Chest Fund and the Tree Council’s Network Rail Community Tree Planting Fund.
Cllr Campbell said:
I am delighted to see that this project is now underway. Since its closure two years ago, the old golf course has become a popular spot for walkers, dog owners and other park users.
It is an extensive, undulating area covering around eight hectares, offering magnificent views of the Cathedral as well as the lakes and other parts of the park.
This project will not only improve its biodiversity and boost the environment, it will also make this area even more attractive and enjoyable for all park users.
Cllr Walkington said:
A wise person once observed that one of the true meanings of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit. Trees heal.
Too much in this world is driven by the short-term. So, hats off to the volunteers from the Countryside Management Service and the Friends of Verulamium Park for coming out on a cold damp morning to create this woodland legacy for future generations.
Cllr Paul Zukowskyj, HCC's Executive Member for Environment, Transport and Growth, said:
This is a fantastic example of how we can work together to create greener, richer and more resilient landscapes across Hertfordshire.
By transforming this former golf course into a thriving natural space, we’re connecting woodland, boosting biodiversity and helping wildlife to flourish.
I want to thank the Countryside Management Service volunteers, the Friends of Verulamium Park and everyone involved for their hard work and commitment. I’m looking forward to visiting the site next year and seeing these new trees and meadows beginning to take shape.
Your Tree, Our Future
SADC will be distributing 12,000 free trees to residents and community groups in early December for planting in gardens and other green spaces.
The trees are being provided by the annual Your Tree, Our Future scheme run in partnership with Hertfordshire County Council.
Those who successfully applied for the trees earlier this year will be emailed details about when and where they will be able to collect the trees.
The total number of trees given to St Albans District since the scheme started in 2022 now stands at 35,000.
Photos: top, from the left, Cllr Taylor, Cllr Walkington and Cllr Campbell in the foreground with volunteers from Friends of Verulamium Park; below, the Cllrs at the Verulamium Park tree planting including one with Bill Free, Chair of Friends of Verulamium Park.
Contact for the media: John McJannet, Principal Communications Officer: 01727-819533, john.mcjannet@stalbans.gov.uk.