Market Harborough community plants first of 22,000 trees at new nature reserve.

Volunteers have planted the first trees of a planned 22,000‑tree woodland at a new reserve in Market Harborough, with willows and alder intended to create wet woodland habitat. The land was gifted to the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust in 2024 and the reserve is expected to open to the public later this year.

Volunteers and local groups planted the first saplings toward a 22,000‑tree project at a new nature reserve in Market Harborough. The initial trees, including willows and alder, are intended to form wet woodland and provide habitat for birds, beetles, fungi and other species. The site was gifted in 2024 to the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust as a legacy for James Adler. The Trust plans further access and path work before opening the reserve to the public later this year. Key details: - The planting involved community volunteers, businesses and students working together on a brisk January day. - Species mentioned include willows and alder, aiming to establish wet woodland habitat. - Michael Adler gifted the land in 2024 in memory of his son James Adler, who died in May 2023 aged 42; James had previously worked for the Wildlife Trust in Surrey. - The reserve opening to the public is planned for later in the year, pending further site and access work. - The project sits alongside the Rewilding Harborough partnership, which is reported as restoring 133 acres at a neighbouring site and aspires to deliver connected habitat that could amount to over 500 acres in the area. - Photo credits associated with the story are Megan Shersby, Ian Drummond and Rhys Barnwell. Summary: The tree planting marks the start of a long-term plan to create wet woodland and broaden nature recovery in the Market Harborough area. The reserve is expected to open to visitors later this year after additional path and access work, and the project ties into wider habitat restoration efforts in South Leicestershire as part of Rewilding Harborough.