HUNDREDS of people have turned out to help plant 5,000 trees for the Woodland Trust at the Avoncliff Wood near Freshford.

Around 260 were expected to help today, while on Friday 90 pupils turned out from Freshford Primary School and 25 from nearby Westwood with Iford Primary School.

That was in addition to the adults who had also booked in for one of the three tree-planting days organised by the Trust.

Rachel Harries, the Trust's engagement and community officer for the South West, said they were "delighted" with the response from the public.

"Aside from the schools, we had around 50 people on Thursday and today we are expecting around 260 people to come and help."

The Trust is planting more than 20 different species of tree at Avoncliff Wood as part of the Big Climate Fightback.

Joe Middleton, the Trust's site manager, said: “We aim to plant over 5,000 new trees at Avoncliff Wood, with the help of local schools, partners and the community.

Lucy Lewis, 47, from Broughton Gifford, turned up with her son, Harvey, 16, and her sister Ella Harding, 45, and her daughter Lola Cook, 14.

They said: "We wanted to do our bit to help the planet. When the trees are planted we can come and visit them."

The Trust had plenty of trees to plant, mostly comprising British native species, such as silver birch, holly, oak and wild cherry.

The Trust raised more than £350,000 just before last Christmas to buy 50 acres of ancient woodland and 25 acres of fields.

The objective is to plant a new wood to link Avoncliff Wood with the nearby Becky Addy Wood, to create a pathway for migrating wildlife.