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HMS SULTAN TRAINEES HELP PLANT WILDLIFE HEDGEROW DURING NATIONAL TREE WEEK
Royal Navy trainees from HMS Sultan joined forces with environmental volunteers to plant a native hedgerow at the establishment's polo fields, marking National Tree Week with practical action on climate change. Trainees from Siskin Division, the bases squadron for those about to join new courses, civil servants, and contractors, from HMS Sultan, worked with Gosport & Fareham Friends of the Earth to plant over 1,200 native trees and shrubs along the southern boundary fence of the polo fields, adjacent to Privett Road. The hedgerow, featuring species including elder, hazel, dogwood, guelder rose, crab apple, field maple, rowan and whitebeam, will enhance local wildlife corridors, providing a natural haven for birds, mammals, and insects. Glenn Chatwood, Environment and Energy Manager at HMS Sultan, said: "This project demonstrates the Royal Navy's commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and contributing to the UK's net zero by 2050 target. It's excellent to see our trainees working alongside local environmental groups to make a tangible difference to both wildlife and the local community. The hedgerow will not only provide vital habitat corridors for wildlife but will also help reduce pollution along this busy road." Emma Bartlett-Kelly, from Gosport & Fareham Friends of the Earth, said: "We're delighted to have worked with HMS Sultan on this important project. The volunteers from the Royal Navy were efficient, enthusiastic and wonderful to work with. This hedgerow will provide essential habitat for local wildlife whilst also improving the environment for everyone who uses Privett Road. It's a fantastic example of what can be achieved when military establishments and community groups work together." The four-hour planting session was completed at no cost to the Royal Navy, with funding secured through a grant from the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England. All plants were sourced locally from British stock. The volunteers used environmentally-friendly notch planting techniques with biodegradable tree guards and mulched with wood chippings, avoiding the use of weedkiller. Friends of the Earth will return in three years to remove canes if required, with the hedgerow then incorporated into HMS Sultan's grounds maintenance contract. The project took place during National Tree Week (22-30 November 2025), now in its 50th year, which marks the traditional start of the winter tree planting season when young trees experience the least stress when planted, giving them the best chance of thriving into maturity. HMS Sultan, based in Gosport, is the Royal Navy's centre of engineering excellence, home to the Marine Engineering Training Group and the Royal Naval Air Engineering and Survival Equipment School. The establishment has maintained strong community links for nearly 70 years, regularly supporting local environmental and charitable initiatives. |
Trainees, civil servants, and contractors, from HMS Sultan, worked with Gosport & Fareham Friends of the Earth to plant over 1,200 native trees and shrubs along the southern boundary fence of the polo fields.
Civil servants and contractors help plant native trees at HMS Sultan
Trainees from HMS Sultan plant over 1,200 native trees during National Tree Week
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Glyphosates: Campaign launched to stop Hampshire County Council using weedkiller so insects can flourish
A petition to preserve wild plants in Hampshire to protect insect habitats and food at this time of the year is on its way to the county council.
Gosport and Fareham Friends of the Earth say wild plants have an essential role in nature and have petitioned Hampshire County Council to stop using glyphosates to get rid of them.
It says after all the rain, the sun is finally allowing plants to flourish at their maximum, creating food and habitat for thousands of pollinators, but by cutting them and spraying them, all this habitat gets lost, and with it, many insects die. These chemicals also contaminate water courses harming aquatic wildlife in the process.
Gosport and Fareham Friends of the Earth say wild plants have an essential role in nature and have petitioned Hampshire County Council to stop using glyphosates to get rid of them.
It says after all the rain, the sun is finally allowing plants to flourish at their maximum, creating food and habitat for thousands of pollinators, but by cutting them and spraying them, all this habitat gets lost, and with it, many insects die. These chemicals also contaminate water courses harming aquatic wildlife in the process.
Environmentalists in bid to ban weedkiller
Presentation of petition asking Hampshire County Council to stop using glyphosates
GOSPORT and Fareham Friends of the Earth were delighted to present their petition to Councillor Graham Burgess at Lee-on-the-Solent on Monday, May 15.
Councillor Burgess had kindly agreed to take this to Councillor Rob Humby at Hampshire County Council.
We had collected almost 1,600 signatures from Hampshire residents.
There is a lot of public opposition to the use of glyphosates for various reasons.
Herbicide
Hampshire County Council uses the herbicide glyphosate to control so called ‘weeds’, spraying it along the edges of pavements and around trees.
These wildflowers are attractive in their own right. Beyond destroying vital habitats and food supplies, glyphosate has been shown
to harm insects, birds and other animals.
Over 40 councils across England have stopped using it because of its devastating environmental impacts.
GOSPORT and Fareham Friends of the Earth were delighted to present their petition to Councillor Graham Burgess at Lee-on-the-Solent on Monday, May 15.
Councillor Burgess had kindly agreed to take this to Councillor Rob Humby at Hampshire County Council.
We had collected almost 1,600 signatures from Hampshire residents.
There is a lot of public opposition to the use of glyphosates for various reasons.
Herbicide
Hampshire County Council uses the herbicide glyphosate to control so called ‘weeds’, spraying it along the edges of pavements and around trees.
These wildflowers are attractive in their own right. Beyond destroying vital habitats and food supplies, glyphosate has been shown
to harm insects, birds and other animals.
Over 40 councils across England have stopped using it because of its devastating environmental impacts.
