A FAMILY-friendly trail teaching children about the variety of trees and animals on our doorstep has been launched in Weymouth.
The Lodmoor Country Park Tree Trail has been designed by the Friends of Lodmoor Country Park and Weymouth Town Council to teach children of the importance of trees and to help them learn about the animals that might live and feed in the different tree species.
The circular trail begins at the main entrance to the park near the children's play area and takes roughly 45 minutes to complete.
The educational trail highlights 16 trees around the park, including a hazel, a sycamore and a silver birch, with each featuring a tree detective box containing information about the animals that live there.
A spokesman for Weymouth Town Council said: "Everyone knows trees are amazing: they filter out pollution, provide shade, slow down climate change and provide food and shelter for wildlife. Not to mention supplying us with fruit, nuts and wood.
"But do you know which tree's timber is best for making boats? Or what species of tree was spread by squirrels? Or the best tree to plant outside your house to scare of witches?
"The newly installed tree trail in Lodmoor Country Park will help your discover the answers to these questions and many more."
A trail map can be downloaded on the Weymouth Town Council website and paper copies can be picked up from the pitch and putt kiosk or the model railway in the country park.
Mayor of Weymouth Colin Huckle said: "This is a fantastic free family activity which makes use of the natural resources in the wonderful Lodmoor Country Park.
"I would like to thank Weymouth Town Council's parks and open spaces team and the Friends of Lodmoor Country Park for their hard work on this project."
Before 1982, Lodmoor Country Park was a disused landfill site. Now, it is a thriving park, a haven for local wildlife, and a green corridor to neighbouring Lodmoor Nature Reserve and Lorton Valley Nature Park.
For more information on the trail and to download a trail map, visit the Weymouth Town Council website.
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