Completing a challenge to plant a tree for each person living in the Sid Valley has been celebrated with the addition of a Silver Lime, now standing at a Sidmouth beauty spot.
Sidmouth Town Council in 2022 challenged Sidmouth Arboretum to plant 14,000 trees over five years across the Sid Valley as a nod to each resident.
When the gauntlet was thrown down to plant 14,000 trees, a host of volunteers set about planting the young saplings, reaching the target in December 2025, then carrying on until more than 17,000 whips have now been put in the ground.
A Sidmouth Town Council spokesman said: “Sidmouth Arboretum marked the milestone of planting 14,000 trees in the Sid Valley, by planting a Silver Lime in the Knowle parkland.
“The tree, donated by Sidmouth Town Council, acts as a lasting symbol of the project which has brought together people across the community.”
And a further 250 trees will be planted by the Arboretum in urban areas as part of the project.
A new community orchard was recently planted at Long Park where playing kids can pick the fruit to eat once the trees have matured.
Councillor Hilary Nelson, Sidmouth Town Council chair, said: “Congratulations to the Arboretum and all the volunteers who have worked so hard to achieve this impressive landmark.
“Our environment committee works hard with the many volunteer environmental groups who give so much to the Sid Valley and we are very grateful to them all. Such projects serve as a testament to what can be achieved through joined-up working and community action and will be a lasting legacy for Sidmouth for years to come.”
Tree planting volunteers worked to create more than 3km of hedgerows, plus biodiverse habitats for wildlife.
Hedging whips were planted to help the River Sid Catchment Group’s project to slow the flow of water running off high ground into the river after heavy rain.
And a small community orchard of dessert apple trees at Long Park is expected to bear fruit in two years’ time.
The town’s tree project was backed through grants and donations by East Devon National Landscape, the Woodland Trust, Devon Wildlife Trust, Tree Council and National Highways.
