Volunteers from Weston Turville School and Chiltern Rangers begin tree planting for nature reserve

The land, between the Goat Centre and Fremantle Court, is being brought forward for a proposed new nature reserve and a zero carbon retirement and care community.

The trees were kindly donated by Chairman of the Bucks County Council, Brian Roberts.

John Shaw, from Chiltern Rangers said: "We have worked together with Hambledon Land to ensure this development is good for the environment.

"Buildings will have bird and bat boxes, aimed at housing swifts, house martins,house sparrows, blue tits and great tits.

"The grounds would include sensory gardens that would be of particular benefit for residents with dementia and other long-term health and well-being conditions. This has the dual

benefit of providing multi-sensory stimulation and wildlife Connecting built form with the environment habitat.

"Planting the trees here today is the beginning of the work that will eventually make this place a wonderful location to live."

Chiltern Rangers is a social enterprise, based in High Wycombe, dedicated to enhancing the habitats in the Chilterns area through conservation, education and community engagement.

Hambledon Land is working in partnership with Chiltern Rangers to create a retirement village alongside a 17 acre nature reserve on Risborough Road, Stoke Mandeville.

The development will provide communal facilities which will be enjoyed by the new residents and the wider Stoke Mandeville community.

Communal facilities including restaurant/snack bar, education/hobby suite, fitness suite, health clinic, swimming pool and bowling green.

Volunteers seen working with Chiltern Rangers include children from Weston Turville School and staff from Johnson & Johnson Head Office in High Wycombe.