Twenty five volunteers including eight children from Dane Valley Beavers attended Marshall Grove last weekend.

The ground was very wet, but the volunteers were not deterred and planted about 125 tree whips suitable for the conditions, these included alder, willow, hazel, holly, birch, oak, elder and beech.

Some of the group then moved to the green space at the foot of the water tower on Lambert's Lane.

Here 17 volunteers planted a small community orchard comprising five apple trees (Lord Derby, Braeburn, Cox, Katy and Bramley Seedling) together with one Merryweather damson, Victoria plum and Conference pear.

Two of our younger volunteers Katharine Franklin (12) and Katie Borg Hefferen (8) were delighted to plant the 'Katy' apple tree.

The partnership of Congleton Sustainability Group with Cheshire Wildlife Trust has set up a 'Trees for Congleton' campaign.

Supported by Congleton Town Council, Cheshire East Council and Congleton in Bloom, with initial funding from Congleton Partnership and the William Dean Trust, the group aims to plant 30,000 trees in and around Congleton over the next five years.

Over the last three weeks the group has planted at several sites. Firstly at the Quinta play park, then Padgbury Lane and last weekend at Marshall Grove play area and Lamberts Lane.

Our last stop of the day was back at Padgbury Lane, where we had to replant six of the fruit trees, which had been pulled out last Wednesday evening.

Fortunately a nearby resident had spotted the uprooted trees and taken them into his garage for safety. He had very kindly potted them up to protect the roots.

Patti Pinto, from 'Trees for Congleton' said: "We were very disappointed that the trees had been pulled up, but glad that they were unharmed.

"We do not know who vandalised these trees. We will be maintaining these fruit trees and they will not grow above 3m in any case due to the dwarfing rootstock the fruit trees were grafted onto.

"We have one more community orchard to plant later this month. This session will include a group of Duke of Edinburgh volunteers."

These events were organised by Adam Linnet from Cheshire Wildlife Trust on behalf of 'Trees for Congleton'.

Mr Linnet said: "We have been delighted with the number and enthusiasm of the local volunteers over the last few weeks.

"Residents have been very supportive and pleased to see us out planting trees. We will be planning for autumn planting projects from April onwards."

You can contact the group via [email protected]