National Trust plants thousands of trees to conserve Kingston Lacy woodland

Today, Abbott Street Copse – close to where the trust has planted 2,500 trees and 1,500 hedgerow trees over the winter – is one of the most popular locations to see bluebells.

Part of the ongoing work is to help create a new woodland route to protect the bluebells and ancient oak trees on the estate.

Kingston Lacy outdoors manager Nigel Chalk said: "In creating this plantation and allowing the woodland to naturalise we will increase, conserve and improve the biodiversity of this environment benefitting wildlife like bats, woodpeckers, dormice, shrews, voles, tree creepers and many invertebrates.

"It will also help floral diversity, giving the native species of bluebell the chance to spread alongside other species such as wood anemone, primrose and ferns."

The new woodland visitor route at Abbott Street Copse will wind through the new plantation and parts of the ancient woodland. The plantation consists primarily of oak, with sweet chestnut, hazel, wild cherry and scattered Scots pine.

Networks of gravel and grass rides will add a mixture of habitats with areas for people and families to walk through and explore.

This area will include natural seats, wild flower habitats and new adjoining hedgerow corridors.

Kingston Lacy countryside manager Jake Simpkins said: "Ancient semi-natural woodland in the UK such as Abbott Street Copse has halved since the 1930s. Only two per cent of British woodlands fall into this category which often consists of the most diverse woodland habitats.

"Extending and preserving this habitat is therefore extremely important and the work we have completed will improve and protect this area of woodland for years to come."

Designated bluebell parking is now available near the copse, from 9am-5pm, up until May 6.