It was a case of third time lucky as Dereham Society finally managed to plant 420 trees on the town's Neatherd Moor.

An unseasonal spring mix of heavy rain and snow have thwarted previous attempts to carry out the work.

But the arrival of warm sun and the loss of the chilling wind made the conditions perfect as a team of about 20 local people from children to pensioners set about the planting on Saturday,

George Parfitt, 11, and her sister, Jess, 14, are both members of the 1st Toftwood Guides and they joined as part of their Guiding awards. Jess is working for her Baden Powell Award, and George for her Community Action badge,

Dereham

The saplings were given by the Woodland Trust and are among six million which the organisation is arranging to be put in across the country.

They are part of a plan to improve the diversity and range of fauna and wildlife in the area from the Moor to Etling Green and improve views and help incorporate more fully the 44 acres of extra land Dereham Town Council has bought.

There is a mix of old English hedging trees including hawthorn, blackthorn, rowan, silver birch, oak and hazel.

Dereham Society Philip Morton said: 'It was third time lucky and the conditions on the ground were really good and the weather was glorious. After the two previous cancellations, I was beginning to wonder whether we would be able to do it as keeping them for a month was not easy,'

Mr Morton added: 'It stops it looking like an agricultural landscape and breaks up the view.

'The longer term aim is to provide a network for both wildlife and people and to link up the wooded areas of the Neatherd with those at Etling Green.'

Mr Morton said a lot of dog walkers passing by on Saturday had talked about the dispute between Breckland and Dereham town councils which has led to bollards being put on the Neatherd to block parking areas.

He said they wanted it resolved so there would be a safer entrance to the Moor, better parking spaces and better facilities for families.