A sapling grown and nurtured on the Blenheim Estate has been planted by an Oxfordshire housebuilder at a new development to mark National Tree Week.

Pye Homes has planted a rowan sapling at the new Welborne Garden Village development near Fareham, Hampshire.

Roger File, director at Pye Homes, said: "This rowan sapling is hugely symbolic for us, as it marks our first housebuilding project outside Oxfordshire, in a ground breaking partnership.

Roger File, director at Pye HomesRoger File, director at Pye Homes (Image: Pye Homes) "Pye Homes has been part of the Blenheim Estate since 2018, and so it’s only right that we have introduced a Blenheim sapling amongst one of the first trees at Welborne.

"We are committed to creating new communities of which residents can be proud and Welborne is no exception.

"We are delighted to have begun crafting these beautiful new homes, alongside the delivery of new green spaces and essential amenities."

Pye Homes was appointed by Hampshire-based Buckland Group to deliver the first 600 of the proposed 6,000 homes at Welborne.

Work started this month with foundations being laid, and the first Pye home is set to be completed in late summer 2025.

Pye Homes is responsible for 210 homes in this first tranche of work.

More than 50 per cent of Welborne will be green space and wildlife and natural habitats will be restored from the previously intensively farmed agricultural land.