The town has moved a step closer to a permanent tree nursery.

The team at Bridport Tree Planting has erected fencing and a gate near the River Asker at Riverside Gardens, near the bridge at the bottom of East Road.

Joe Hackett, co-ordinator of Bridport Tree Planting, said: “The nursery will be able to house up to 800 saplings. We will be getting more young trees in the autumn, having planted or helped plant about a thousand, both in public open spaces and private land since last winter.

“The next stage will be putting mulch in the nursery to keep grass and weeds down over the summer.

“We are hoping for more saplings from I Dig Trees and The Woodland Trust. Thanks to Bridport Town Council, who are working on a tree plan for the town and surrounding parishes.

“We will be looking at lots of areas of open space to be carefully assessed. The right trees for the right places is the name of the game.”

Bridport Tree planting is part of Friends of the Earth who hope to double tree cover to combat climate change.

For more information about local tree information, email joe@thehacketts.uk