Hundreds of trees have been planted at a community small holding on Portland.

Volunteers and members of APPLES (All Portland People Learning Ecological Solutions) gathered last week to start planting more than 420 trees.

The free seeds were donated by The Woodland Trust, the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity.

Martyn Puckett, who founded the project, said they had a productive day.

He said: “It was brilliant. We had around 18 people. It was very good. We were there for four hours but we managed to get in about 320 trees.

“We have given something back and not just taken away.”

APPLES plans to use the area for allotments, orchards and animal keeping.

Seeds planted include elder, hawthorn, dog rose, crab apple and hazel. Four of the seeds already grow on the site, which is based near Portland Bill.

Mr Puckett said: “Most of them are relative to what’s on the site already. When you apply to the Woodlands Trust they have certain categories of trees.

“If they all grow then it will be great. It will create a natural weather screen. It will be a haven down there.

“It’s also going to provide lots of extra berries and fruit for the wildlife.”

APPLES formed at the beginning of the year following conversations with Portland Community Organisers.

Mr Puckett said he had spent years looking at unused sites that could be looked after.

Eventually land was leased to the group by Sue Lees, who owns Windmill Stables.

In their first month, the group created a meander pathway cleared weeds and brambles.

The group has since joined forces with Weymouth and Portland Transition Towns, which has helped find funding for the project. Mr Puckett said: “We have spent about £3,000 of our own money. We have now got funding from the groups we have linked with.

“Considering in February it was a field that had nothing but weeds and grass in it for the past 60 years, it’s amazing that it’s now a functioning small holding.”

n If you would like to find out more information about the APPLES project and its ongoing work, please visit facebook.com/ AllPortlandPeopleLearningEcologicalSolutions