A community hedge-planting drive is due to take place in a Suffolk village at the end of November.

Climate charity Possible and local farmer and naturalist Patrick Barker are trying to improve wildlife habitats and create new carbon storage at a small farm in Suffolk.

They will be hosting a charity tree planting event at Fairoaks Farm, Westhorpe, near Stowmarket, with the aim of bringing the community together to help the environment.

The event takes place on November 26 and 27 from 10am to 4pm both days. Volunteers will be given the tools they need - and a free lunch.

The 32-acre farm is owned by Vicki Chapman, whose late father, Tommy Goodson, kept pigs and chickens and grew potatoes. She wanted to manage it so that it could benefit the environment. 

With the help of farming cousins Patrick and Brian Barker - who are based in Westhorpe and keen on conservation - the entire farm was entered into a Countryside Stewardship mid tier scheme.

"Fairoaks Farm is a farm environmental project in Westhorpe that looks to squeeze the maximum amount of environmental benefit from a relatively small farm," said Patrick.

"The farm has benefited from a range of Countryside Stewardship scheme options, bird feeding, pond restoration and the creation of leaky dams to enhance locally important species such as grey partridge, brown hare, great crested newt, turtle dove and a huge variety of bees, hoverflies, butterflies and moths.

"This hedge planting event represents a tremendous opportunity to create new habitats on the farm and give the community the chance to be part of this wonderful project."

Elliot McDevitt, tree-planting campaigner at Possible, said: "We're looking forward to this being a particularly successful session and we can't wait to work with local residents.

"Hedgerow regeneration will undoubtedly be a valuable tool as the UK looks to reduce its carbon emissions and restore its native wildlife.

"By working with the Nature Friendly Farming Network we hope we can help those in the agricultural sector who want to make a change do so and connect communities from all walks of life to the benefit of both the climate and nature."

If you would like to take part in the tree planting, go to www.wearepossible.org/stowmarket to sign-up.