DOZENS of new trees have been planted at three public sites across Mold after the project was disrupted by coronavirus.

The work had been due to take place last March by volunteers and businesses, together with Flintshire County Council (FCC) and North Wales Wildlife Trust officers and councillors from Mold Town Council - but the pandemic disrupted that.

The trees were heeled in at Wepre Park and in December nineteen of them were planted by FCC officers at the Alun School Campus and five at Maes y Dre playing field.

They include an avenue of common lime along the Broncoed Lane boundary of the Alun campus, along with wild cherry and acer by the school car park.

At Maes y Dre the five landscape centrepiece trees are hornbeam, beech and oak.

This month, a further eight trees have been planted along the grass verge alongside the A541 at Hall View in Mold. Two different types of acers have been chosen for their attractive vibrant foliage that changes colour throughout the seasons.

Funding for the trees has been donated by two community-minded Mold businesses - Celtic Financial Planning Ltd, based on Bromfield Industrial Estate, and Capacity Marketing for Charities, based on Mold Business Park.

Robert Lewis, Director of Celtic Financial Planning Ltd, said: “We hope these trees will continue to be a symbol of our commitment as a business, to both the local community and the environment: we are passionate in doing business in the right way, that’s why we put corporate social responsibility at the heart of what we do.”

Sarah Slater, Biodiversity Officer for Flintshire County Council, added: “This is another fantastic example of local businesses in Mold improving the townscape for nature and residents.

“FCC are incredibly pleased to be able to work with Celtic Financial, Capacity Marketing and Mold Town Council on this project. Thank you to both businesses for your valued contribution.”

The benefits of urban trees are well researched, for both shade and cooling, plus reducing harmful emissions from traffic. And of course they look great, increase biodiversity and people love having them close to where they live – demand for houses tends to be higher in ‘greener’ areas.

A public consultation organized by Cittaslow Mold and Mold Town Council in July 2019 identified over 190 sites across the town where people said that they would like trees to be planted.

Since then over 110 trees have been planted at these sites. Further potential sites will now be giving careful consideration so that, as funding becomes available, the best tree species can be selected for each site particularly with size and maintenance in mind.

If you or your business are interested in helping to fund more trees for Mold, please contact Jane Evans, events and community engagement officer at Mold Town Council, phone 01352 758532 or email events@moldtowncouncil.org.uk.