Trees for the future
A society grows great, when men plant trees, whose shade they know they shall never sit in
ANONYMOUS
What is the Haydown Link?
Amport Parish is blessed by many diverse footpaths maintained by landowners and the Parish Council on behalf of Hampshire County Council.
Local farmer and Landowner Simon Chesshire of Haydown Farm , Amport, had the idea of creating a living memorial to his late wife. This idea then progressed into creating an avenue of trees on one of the many popular footpaths on his land.
Tree planting is very current and creates biodiversity. A single tree can be home to hundreds of species of insects, fungi, mammals, and plants. Without trees, forest creatures would have nowhere to call home. Trees are vital to all of our existence and right now we need more trees and they are also key in helping improve air quality
The Haydown Link Avenue
The footpath being turned into an avenue of trees crosses over two fields that were originally used for grazing dairy cows and is a beautiful walk between the village of Amport and East Cholderton.
The avenue will be approx. 330 meters long and approx. 20 meters wide including the track and Mr. Chesshire has already prepared the ground on either side of the path and put in watering points on the path.
The name Haydown Link was created to give the path a local 'name' and as it is a link between East Cholderton Village and Amport Village, Haydown Link, seemed appropriate.
There is a small committee of local people who volunteer their time to help Mr. Chesshire make this idea happen and they are involved in sourcing trees, planting the trees, and arranging publicity and fundraising for this project.
Help Create 'The Link'
As always financing a project like this incurs costs. The Amport Parish Council has earmarked a sum towards this project and a local charitable trust has also generously offered funds and £11000 has, so far, been raised, however, we still need more to complete the project. The Haydown Link committee has started to raise the remainder of funds needed which is £16500.
We are asking the local public, who will enjoy the future of the avenue of trees, to donate towards this venture. Local parishioners can help with the cost of buying a tree (£188) or just donate what they can, knowing that whatever they give is going to help with climate change and in making a statement in the local landscape for future generations to enjoy.
People may think that (£188) it is a large amount of money for a tree but each tree is container grown in the UK and guaranteed by Barcham Trees - the specialist tree company who are supplying the trees. Barcham Trees have been key in consulting which trees to plant and where to plant them, as well as how to plant them.
Trees with a view
This image will show the view from the footpath and the trees agreed for planting by Barcham Trees. These trees will all complement the local surroundings. All the trees will have 'Tree Protection Orders' so that they cannot be cut down or removed in the future and on either side of the trees there will be a strip of land that will be planted with wildflowers.
Below is the tree list and planting location.
Where?
The Haydown Link is shown on the below map - the red line running from Haydown Farm across the fields.
