A TEAM of volunteers from a Basingstoke firm have been helping to turn Basing Common into a wildlife haven.

Volunteers from Southern Electric’s Winchester Road offices planted rows of young trees and shrubs as part of Basingstoke council’s Common Community Woodland Project, where the aim is to plant native trees across local common land.

Councillor Clive Sanders, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s Cabinet member for communities, sport and leisure, visited the site to personally thank everyone for their hard work.

Cllr Sanders said: “It’s great to see our local communities and businesses taking such an active role in improving the local environment.”

Under their Community at Heart scheme, the Southern Electric team, which was organised by Tiffany Gibson-Gardener, were allowed to take a day off work to do voluntary work in the community.

She said: “We were wondering whether we could plant some trees ourselves but we heard about the borough council’s project and thought it was ideal for us.”

Despite the rain and cold weather, the volunteers turned up in their wet weather gear to help create a ‘wildlife corridor’ between Crabtree Plantation and Old Basing.

The trees provide shelter and food for wild animals, birds and insects. It also presents a more interesting landscape for visitors.

Mrs Gibson-Gardener said: “We had a fabulous weekend and thoroughly enjoyed doing it. This part of the common looks completely different now, so it’s really rewarding to know that our efforts will make such a difference.”

For more information on the Community Woodland Project, contact Karen Evans-Prosser on 01256 845649 or e-mail karen.evans-prosser@basingstoke.gov.uk.