MORE than a thousand trees will be planted in Kidderminster this month to form a "natural entrance" to Stourvale and Puxton Nature Reserve.

To celebrate National Tree Week, Wyre Forest District Council's rangers will be joined by schoolchildren from St Mary's C of E Primary to plant 1,650 trees on Thursday, November 28.

Part of the council's Stour Gateway project, the trees will be a mix of alder, silver birch, goat willow and hawthorn and will be planted near to the Kidderminster Delivery Office to enhance the nearby nature reserve and benefit the wide range of wildlife species in the area.

Paul Allen, Wyre Forest's countryside and parks manager, said: "It’s brilliant our rangers, the Environment Agency and schoolchildren from St Mary’s C of E Primary School are coming together on this project.

"By planting 1,650 trees we are enhancing the Stour Gateway, improving air quality and giving wildlife a new habitat to thrive in for years to come.”

The project is being part-funded by European Regional Development Funds, administered by Worcestershire Wildlife Trust and Worcestershire County Council.

The Environment Agency is also helping with the planting as it continues to work with council rangers on the Salmon in the Stour initiative, seeking to improve water quality in the River Stour.