CHILDREN in the New Forest are at the forefront of a new bid to grow mighty oaks from little acorns.
Forestry Commission conservationists reckon the regeneration of oak trees in Hampshire's famous woodlands is one of their trickiest problems.
So they have enlisted the support of children from Brockenhurst Primary School, who are calling on people from across Hampshire to help collect thousands of acorns.
The big acorn pick takes place on Saturday, October 26, from Anderwood Car Park between Lyndhurst and Burley (11am to 3pm). It is hoped that 10,000 acorns will be picked up.
Chloe Dunn, eight, said: "There will be prizes for the people who collect most acorns from underneath the old oak trees.
"There will be guided walks to take part in, too, and there'll be children's activity sheets to complete. It will be great fun."
Forestry Commission organiser Helen Wood added: "People will also be making a really important contribution to the future of the New Forest."
She saidd that three experimental planting areas, ranging from bare soil to bramble cover, had been set aside for the acorns, with each area having one part protected from animals and the remainder fenced off.
"How well the acorns do in each area will help tell us the type of conditions we need to create to begin large-scale oak regeneration programmes," she said.
Details from the Forestry Commission at Lyndhurst on 023 8028 3141.
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