The first trees in the new Hempsted Woods have been planted by school children from Hempsted Primary School.

The 100,000 native tree woodland is part of the new green energy and eco park at the Enovert recycling centre in Hempsted.

Thirty children from Hempsted Primary School became the first pupils in Gloucester to plant trees there. They were joined by Richard Graham MP for Gloucester, Mark Silvester CEO of Enovert and Cllr Richard Cook, leader of Gloucester City Council.

Richard Graham's aspiration is that every child in the city should have an opportunity to plant at least one tree there over time.

The event coincides with Enovert submitting a planning application to the city council for the first phase of solar panels. It will cover five acres and produce home grown green energy for Gloucester.

In the long term, what was once a tip will be home to the giant new woodland, and generate green energy from sun and wind, with hydrogen being investigated as a later addition.

Richard Graham MP said: "This is the end of the beginning: the first trees of the new Hempsted Woods are planted and the solar application is in.

"2022 will see great further progress on planting more trees and generating solar energy. I look forward to seeing many more school children plant trees soon and watching over time the new woodland become a space that Gloucester's residents and nature can enjoy together.

"Alongside the green energy generation which should start soon, what was a tip will become a model around the country for how a recycling centre can be reinvented."

Mark Silvester, CEO of Enovert, said: "These first new trees are an important step, as we continue to restore the former landfill site to be a green space and energy park to benefit the city. I'm also pleased we've taken the next steps in producing green energy to support Gloucester's drive to Net Zero. There is huge potential here for us to fulfil."

Richard Waller, headteacher at Hempsted Primary School, said: "I'm proud that pupils from our school were the first to plant trees at the Hempsted Woods. We're excited to see the trees grow and to have a new green space close to the school to help pupils learn about nature."

Richard Cook, leader of Gloucester City Council, said: "Building a greener Gloucester is crucial to meeting our Net Zero target by 2030 and this is just one of the projects I'm proud the city council is supporting. The trees planted today, and the rest to come, will be a visual reminder of our commitment to that."