10,000 Trees Planted: Worgret Farm’s Living Landscape Takes Root

10,000 Trees Planted: Worgret Farm’s Living Landscape Takes Root

The planting is complete! A visionary project to bring 10,000 new trees and over a mile of native hedgerow to Worgret Farm near Wareham, Dorset, has reached a major milestone.

Backed by the Farming in Protected Landscapes scheme and led by local organisations including Trees for Dorset and Planet Purbeck, the initiative has transformed 50 acres of farmland into a more natural, wildlife-friendly space—restoring habitats, supporting biodiversity, and reshaping the future of farming.

A Greener Way to Farm

At the heart of the project is dairy farmer Ian Baggs, who has reimagined how his land can work in harmony with nature. Instead of electric fences, three new paddocks are now divided by living boundaries—lines of hedgerow and trees that bring structure, shade, and sanctuary.

“This field of grass is as important to me as wheat is to an arable farmer,” Ian said. “The key is giving the grass time to grow and recover. Our cows rotate through paddocks, and the new hedges allow us to do that in a more sustainable way—with huge added benefits for the environment.”

Inspired by a Living Model

The idea was sparked by a visit to a New Zealand farm, where each paddock was surrounded by mature, diverse tree species. That farm was alive with birds, insects, and natural shade—and Ian wanted to bring the same energy to Worgret.

“It’s a win for the cows, a win for the environment, and a win for the farmers,” he said. “The grass gets a better chance to regrow, we get more flowers and deeper root systems for carbon capture—and the hedgerows themselves are carbon sinks. It’s a double bang for the buck.”

A Carefully Curated Landscape

Ahead of planting, Ian prepared the land by loosening the soil and drilling holes for each young tree—or whip—making it easier for teams of volunteers to get thousands in the ground before spring arrived.

The planting included a wide variety of native species perfectly suited to the acidic, gravelly soil: hawthorn, hazel, guelder rose, hornbeam, blackthorn, dog rose, wild cherry, elder, crab apple, and field maple. Occasional silver birch, willow, Scots pine, and holly were added to boost diversity and resilience.

Powered by Community and Conservation

Planting 10,000 trees is no small task—requiring time, coordination, and community spirit. Trees for Dorset, a local charity committed to protecting and promoting tree planting across the county, played a central role—successfully helping to plant 6,000 of the 10,000 trees now in the ground.

Founded in 2009, the charity raises funds, applies for grants, and works with communities, schools, and landowners to bring more trees to Dorset.

Their community tree planter, Toby Branston, said:“For decades, hedgerows were ripped up in the name of food production. Now, we’re helping to put them back—rebuilding natural boundaries that support wildlife, connect habitats, and boost resilience in the landscape.”

Toby also runs winter coppicing projects to help manage hazel woodlands, keeping them open for sunlight and allowing native wildflowers like bluebells, primroses and wood anemones to thrive.

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