A West Sussex farm supporting people with disabilities is undergoing a remarkable green transformation, thanks to the arrival of 105 native trees that will create a safer, more natural environment for all.
New Life for the Farm's Boundaries
Diagrama Community Services at Duckyls Farm, near East Grinstead, is celebrating a significant step in its land restoration mission. The organisation has received a generous donation of 105 native broadleaf saplings from the Woodland Trust, which have been planted along a boundary where a deteriorating old fence was recently removed.
This initiative marks the beginning of a long-term project to replace hazardous fencing with natural, wildlife-friendly barriers. The farm is committed to removing old, unsafe fencing and replacing it with living hedgerows and dead hedges. Both options provide safe, natural barriers and shelter for livestock while simultaneously creating vital routes for smaller mammals, birds, and insects.
Community at the Heart of Planting
The project was truly a community effort. Residents and people supported through the farm's Day Opportunities programme played a central role in the planting process. Service users, including Cameron, Jason, and Caspian, were instrumental in marking out the planting area and preparing the ground for the new saplings.
Steve Shill, senior project lead at the Woodland Trust, commented on the initiative's impact. "The Woodland Trust's Free Trees for Schools and Communities scheme was delighted to support the Diagrama Foundation with their tree planting ambitions," he said. "The planting of 105 native broadleaf trees at Duckyls Farm will have a hugely positive impact on people and nature for years to come."
A Lasting Legacy for People and Wildlife
The newly planted species, which include downy birch, hazel, holly, and goat willow, are crucial to the UK's ecosystems. Their seasonal leaf fall will naturally enrich the soil, helping to create diverse and thriving habitats for fungi, insects, and other wildlife.
For Keri Strugnell, care farm and community manager at Diagrama Community Services, the benefits are twofold. "This generous gift from the Woodland Trust means a great deal to everyone at Duckyls Farm," she stated. "The new trees enhance our landscape and offer the people we support the chance to play an active role in restoring and caring for our environment. Watching these hedgerows grow will mirror the growth we see every day within our community."
This tree planting project forms a key part of Diagrama's broader, long-term commitment to nature-based activities, sustainability, and ensuring meaningful involvement for all the people they support.
