Volunteers plant 750 shrubs in Glasgow Victoria Park

Around 50 people turned up for the community event in sunny Victoria Park on Saturday morning.

With shovels in hand, the eager locals planted the trees in a stretch of green space between the pond and the motorway.

The initiative was organised by Friends of Victoria Park and Victoria Park Community Trust, in partnership with The Conservation Volunteers and the John Muir Trust.

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Steve Nelson, chair of the Community Trust, said: "We are planting the transplants very very densely and these are woodland edge shrubs, so plants that would normally grow at the edge of woodlands and grow around two metres high.

"They will create a dense thicket of shrubs.

"The reason we are planting here is that it will help screen all the cars from people in the park.

"It will also filter pollutants from the traffic and help with the noise.

"It's through The Conservation Volunteers that we got these trees for free.

"It's a big win here and it's not costing us very much to do it.

"Hopefully, this is phase one, this 100 metres. If it works, the idea would be to continue this all the way from the way along the frontage of the park, where it meets the road."

Steve Nelson, chair of Victoria Park Community Trust (Image: Newsquest)

Craig Young, project manager at The Conservation Volunteers, said: "The trees we are planting will grow nice and thick and will be great for small birds, hedgehogs and mice.

"They are good for biodiversity, for different insects and birds.

"We will see a massive boom, even with the road so close.

"And it's not just the environmental reasons. A lot of it is the health benefits. 

"During the winter, a lot of people stay inside and it's good to remind people that they can do a little physical activity and there are mental benefits as well to being out in nature.

"People can chat, find things that they might be interested in and build up the community."

Craig Nelcon, project manager at The Conservation Volunteers (Image: Newsquest)

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Mr Nelson added: "It's fantastic. There are a lot of people and I am absolutely chuffed that they came.

"There are a whole bunch of people meeting here for the first time.

"It's about community as much as it is about ecology and biodiversity.

Councillor Eunis Jassemi, who attended the planting, said: "Many have complained to me about the noise pollution in the past. Today marks the first step in making our park a more eco-friendly space. 

"We need a long-term strategy in the area that not only cuts pollution but boosts our green pace. 

"I'll continue to work with all partners, stakeholders and the community to develop our park so that everyone can enjoy it."