WELLY wanging proved to be a bootiful way for the Woodland Trust to notch up a world record attempt on Sunday.

Nearly 300 people took part in a “largest welly wanging competition” as part of the latest tree planting day at Heartwood Forest in Sandridge.

To set the record, a minimum of 250 people needed to participate by throwing a welly and in the event, 282 people took part including Woodland Trust president Clive Anderson who threw his boot a respectable 10.15 metres.

The longest throw of the day was 26.7 metres by local resident Paul Lowe – but it was still some way off the world record of 63 metres.

The attempt, which is now subject to Guinness World Record ratification, was held as part of the Woodland Trust’s Give it Some Welly for Woodland campaign.

The initiative is to help raise funds to protect and create native woodland throughout Hertfordshire and beyond.

Louise Neicho, site manager at Heartwood, said: “Despite the cold and damp weather we had a great turnout, we planted over 6,000 trees and to potentially have set a world record is fantastic.

“There was great enthusiasm from everyone taking part and we look forward to seeing them return in future months and years.”

She added: “We will be holding another planting event in March too – hopefully it’ll be a bit warmer by then.”

Also taking part in the tree planting on Sunday were local members of REACT – Red Endangered Animal Connection Trust. They had been sponsored to plant trees with all the proceeds from their endeavours going towards planting more trees in Borneo to save orangutans.

Doris the Bornean orangutan made an appearance and even managed to plant a few trees herself.

She also participated in the world record attempt although it is debatable whether a “primate” can be included in the numbers.

REACT members planted a total of 600 trees on the Heartwood site - which is set to be the largest broad-leaved forest in the UK – and �750 was raised for the replanting of tropical lowland forest in Borneo.