Almost a thousand trees will be planted at the King's Road playing filed in Dorchester in the coming weeks.

Subject to Covid restrictions and the weather, local schoolchildren will be invited to take part in the project towards the end of this month – adding to a belt of trees alongside the river planted last year.

Part of the scheme is being funded by a £30,000 grant from the Forestry Commission which will involve the planting of a further 70 heavy standard trees all provided with supporting stakes and ties, mulching mats to suppress weed growth and watering kits for use in the summer. Maintenance in the form of regular weeding and watering will then be carried out for a full three years.

In addition, a further 230 light standard trees will be planted with the same accessories and maintenance regime. When combined, these plantings should see the near completion of the second central area of planting at the recreation ground's open space.

Support for the project has been offered by the construction firm building the multi-storey car park at Dorset County Hospital, Wilmott Dixon. It has agreed to fund a further 600 tree 'whips' (smaller plants) for the area, town councillors were told by outdoor services manager Carl Dallison.

Mr Dallison said the final phase of the King's Road planting, to be carried out in 2023, will see the last section on the western side of the field adjacent to Kings Road completed allowing the development of a circular woodland walk path.