Community effort sees hundreds of trees planted at John O'Groats Mill

More than 400 trees have been planted at a community event at John O'Groats Mill.

Trees were provided by the Woodland Trust, the UK's largest woodland conservation charity, and Thurso in Colour helped organise the planting session on Saturday. Caithness Environment Volunteers came from all over the county to help out.

Alder, willow and a few other species were planted around the mill pond. The pond was restored recently as a result of funding from the Stroupster Wind Farm Community Benefit Fund and is proving to be a haven for wildlife.

Bryony Robinson, development manager at John O'Groats Mill Trust, said: "One of the aims of the mill trust's work is to open up more of the green space around the mill for community use and to encourage biodiversity in the area.

"Those who planted the trees were able to put a name tag on the tree and can watch it grow in the years to come."

The trust is leading an ambitious project to bring the category "B" listed mill back into use as a heritage visitor attraction and community venue, with work expected to begin by the end of this year. An award of almost £1.6 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund was announced last month.

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