SCORES of green-fingered volunteers mucked in to help fight climate change in a mass tree planting.

More than 100 residents joined staff from Chelmsford City Council to plant 1,000 trees on land in South Woodham Ferrers’ Compass Gardens Park.

Native species, including holly, oak and alder, were used to create the new woodland.

Council deputy recycling and ecology boss Rose Moore joined the tree-planting effort.

She said: “Putting the ‘wood’ back into South Woodham Ferrers is a big step towards a greener Chelmsford.

“With the help of residents, we have planted far more trees here than our regular staff would ever be able to do in a single day.

“Recent research shows that just one tree, by the time it’s fully grown, can absorb seven tonnes of carbon.

“The average person currently generates that in a year, so tree planting isn’t the whole answer, but it is certainly going to make a difference to the environmental impact of human activity in this area.”

The trees, known as whips, are all under two feet high and protected by temporary fencing, which will be dismantled once they are big enough to survive on their own.

As the years go by, some of them will naturally thin out and supporting plants will grow around them to form a new woodland for everyone to enjoy.

The planting brings the total number of trees planted with volunteers’ help this winter to almost 9,000.

The council has pledged to plant a tree for every resident of Chelmsford over the next ten years.

Hundreds have signed up for the next Big Community Planting Day at Hylands Park on Sunday, March 1.

For more information, email lyc@chelmsford.gov.uk.