Mansfield Building Society’s Charitable Trust has donated £9,400 to Sherwood Forest Trust to allow it to develop a bespoke community a tree nursery, while colleagues at the society have helped to plant more than 150 oak trees at Strawberry Hill, Mansfield.

The building society was supporting Sherwood Forest Trust, a charity that helps the natural environment of the forest, local people and communities.

The trust, the only charity dedicated entirely to Sherwood Forest, works with communities to help repair the fragmented landscape of the former Royal Hunting Forest of Sherwood.

In 2020 building society staff helped the trust plant more than 300 trees in the grounds of Portland College and it was was keen to help again in 2021 to plant saplings grown from Sherwood Forest’s own acorns.

Dr Patrick Candler, trust chief executive, said: “This fantastic donation from Mansfield Building Society’s Charitable Trust enables us to create a community tree nursery. Once the new polytunnel is constructed and fitted out, we aim to collect 10,000 new tree seeds a year, which we will then be able to germinate and grow on for replanting across Sherwood Forest.

“The polytunnel will provide a sustainable supply of saplings needed for tree-planting projects carried out each season – something we all urgently need to do. We’re looking forward to working alongside local schools, organisations, businesses and universities to help replenish Sherwood Forest and improve our environment.”

Dale Twigger, marketing manager at Mansfield Building Society, who coordinated the latest tree planting day, added: “The colleagues who have given up their time to plant trees have not only benefitted the local environment for many years to come, they’ve also had fun doing it too. With our Charitable Trust donating to help enable a continuous sustainable supply of saplings, it’s critical that in the years ahead we all take this opportunity to plant more trees across north Nottinghamshire.

We’re keen to not rest on our laurels and are looking forward to working with Sherwood Forest Trust further to help meet ambitious plans for our future local environment.”