ENVIRONMENTAL volunteers from Okehampton and Lewtrenchard will be playing their part in helping to plant a million trees in the next four years.

'The Big Tree Plant' is a national government campaign to encourage people and communities to plant more trees in England's towns, cities and neighbourhoods.

With the help of environmental charity BTCV, members of community groups Friends of the Forgotten Garden of Lewtrenchard and Okement Rivers Group (Okehampton) will join fellow groups from Devon — Sampford Peverell Society (Tiverton), Trusham Parish Council (Newton Abbot), Friends of Freedom Fields Park (Plymouth) — doing their bit.

Peter Webb, a forestry advisor with the Friends of the Forgotten Garden of Lewtrenchard, told the Times: 'In Devon less than 10 percent of the land is covered by trees and the Government intends to get that up to 15 percent.

'This planting should help a little towards this target.'

Mr Webb said that the friends will be given 100 trees to plant in April — including oak, ash, cherry, hazel, birch and rowan — all native species.

Lewtrenchard Brownies will once again be helping the friends to do the digging and planting.

Mr Webb added: 'We are very keen that children and young people get involved in tree planting to benefit their future enviroment.

'This planting will not only help us to conserve our ancient woodland here but the extra trees will be a great boost to the bird population in the area.'

Christine Marsh, a spokeswoman for the Okement Rivers Improvement Group, said: 'The group is delighted to take part in the scheme.

'Trees are a very important part of the environment and particular to our river banks.

'The planting along the river will take place in the new year by the group volunteers, and although the trees donated by the BTCV are not known as yet by ORIG, they are expected to be native species such as hazel and oak.'

The Big Tree Plant campaign brings together national organisations, such as BTCV, and local groups and aims to support the 'Big Society' by getting more people involved in planting and caring for trees and establishing local community tree projects throughout England.

BTCV is the UK's largest environmental volunteering charity and supports more than 2000 community groups‚ many of which applied for free trees as part of The Big Tree Plant campaign.

BTCV is to distribute the trees and advise communities on planting and maintenance.

Sasha Newman, South West operations director for BTCV, said: 'A properly managed hedgerow can provide a great habitat and food supply for birds, mammals and insects and we are delighted to support community groups in Devon.

'Their planting scheme has an enormous benefit to the environment.

'It will help lock carbon up thereby reducing climate change and it will provide new habitats for birds and wildlife.'

For more information about BTCV Community or how to plant trees and protect green spaces visit http://www.btcv.org">www.btcv.org