New Milton Town Councillor Geoff Blunden Supports Tree Planting at Ashley Youth & Family Hub
New Milton Town Council always looks forward to celebrating National Tree Week (22 – 29 November 2025) and this year planted trees with young people from Arnewood School and Ashley Youth & Family Hub.
New Milton Town Councillor Geoff Blunden has contributed through his NFDC Councillor Community Fund towards the planting of a flowering cherry tree, Prunus ‘Sunset Boulevard’, at the Ashley Youth & Family Hub.
Councillor Blunden joined young people on Ashley Recreation Ground to help with the planting and mark the occasion, saying: “National Tree Week is now in its 50th year, and we are delighted to participate again, coinciding with the launch of our own Plant a Tree Scheme.”
He continued: “Engaging with young people is a key aim of New Milton Town Council, and this project ties in with us providing a high-quality environment for everyone to enjoy.”
The initiative highlights the Town Council’s commitment to fostering community spirit, caring for the environment, supporting youth engagement, and enhancing local green spaces for future generations.
Ashley Youth & Family Hub is managed by the Town Council’s Youth Services Manager, Louise Beardmore. The Hub supports young families, and young people, hosting youth club sessions, including wellbeing workshops, as well as providing holiday activities and food sessions.
Louise said: “Our young people have really enjoyed getting involved in this project. As we continue to develop our own green space at the hub, we’re able to offer informal, hands-on learning about the environment. It gives the children and young people we support the chance to understand how nature works, why it matters, and what we can all do to help care for our planet.”
The Town Council originally launched the Plant a Tree Initiative in 2020 as part of the Environmental Sustainability & Climate Change Action Plan. The annual scheme offers members of the public the opportunity to purchase a tree thereby contributing to enhancing the town’s beloved green canopy and help slow down climate change.
Over 100 trees will be planted this season on Town Council land. The trees will be plotted on the Hampshire Forest Partnership map