Brian May helped plant 101,000 trees and shrubs on 157 acres in Dorset
Musician Brian May has successfully transformed 157 acres of former agricultural land in Dorset into a thriving woodland habitat. The project, which began in 2013, has resulted in the planting of over 101,000 trees and shrubs to support local biodiversity.
Why it matters
It serves as a practical example of private land rewilding and its positive impact on local ecosystems and wildlife conservation.
What started with a single oak tree in a Dorset field has grown into a much bigger story about giving nature room to return. In September 2013, Brian May joined local villagers in Bere Regis to plant the first tree at what would become May’s Wood, a 157-acre site that had previously been used for growing crops. According to Brian May’s official website, the plan was to turn the farmland into a new woodland and wildlife habitat. Ten years later, more than 101,000 trees and shrubs had been planted, while wildflowers, insects, birds and small mammals had begun making the site their home.It began with one oakThe first planting day took place on September 28, 2013, when May joined members of the local community at the site near Bere Regis in Dorset.
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