Roots and branches: Volunteers (l-r) Peter Daniel, Alison Willan and Julie Johnson were among those who joined EDDC’s Alex Gibson and Nathan Robinson planting fruit trees in the Honiton Bottom nature reserve over several hours on Thursday

Nature reserve will bear fruit

Volunteer nature lovers in Honiton came along on Thursday to help with the planting of new trees at EDDC’s Honiton Bottom community nature reserve.

Alex Gibson from the Council’s SWITCH project and Nathan Robinson from EDDC’s Countryside team were supervising the planting of fruit trees that will form a new orchard in the reserve to attract bees and butterflies, as well as wildlife.

There are also plans for a hay meadow with some wild flowers and a series of ponds. There may also be some beehives and hopefully a community garden.

There will be a chance for volunteers and supporters to meet up at the reserve on the first Tuesday of every month from 10am to 3pm, starting in April.