Council staff got stuck in with a tree planting programme at a park in Borehamwood.

Nineteen members of staff donned boots and old clothes to help plant 150 trees in Aberford Park as part of a boroughwide scheme to increase Hertsmere's tree population.

Between 10am and 2pm staff worked in rotas to plant saplings of oak, alder, hornbeam, rowan, field maple and goat willow to replenish the woodland block along the service road.

Mark Pigden, arboricultural officer at Hertsmere Borough Council, said: "This is part of a wider scheme across Hertsmere to plant a variety of new trees to replace dead, diseased or dying trees that have unfortunately been removed due to the safety risk to people and buildings. Between Glendale, Countryside Management Service (CMS) and volunteer schemes we have planted 850 trees this season.

"Staff have planted 150 trees to increase the size of the woodland copse in Aberford Park. This park is fairly limited in terms of biodiversity of tree species, so we have planted a complete mix of native deciduous trees to increase the number of oak, willow, hazel and rowen to improve the ranges of habitat and general diversity in the park."

In addition to the 150 trees planted in Aberford Park, the council says it has planted 100 trees and shrubs in King George Recreation Ground in Bushey to create shade, reduce surface flooding and improve biodiversity, 500 trees in Furzefield Woods in Potters Bar to restock the woodland, as well as 71 trees across other parks and open spaces.

Mr Pigden added: "Unfortunately, we do have to remove trees due to a variety of reasons, but we aim to replenish and add to our tree stock to ensure habitats for wildlife, improve our green spaces as well as part of our climate change programme to achieve net-zero carbon emissions no later than 2050."