THE Friends of Victoria Playing Fields celebrated their love of trees on Valentine's Day when they planted six new trees in St Albans.

More than 70 people, including six district councillors and TV and theatre actor Philip Madoc, joined the group to plant three cherry trees, two plane trees and a conifer on the playing fields.

Mr Madoc, the London Colney actor who played the title role in the BBC's The Life and Times of David Lloyd George, planted the trees with scores of eager children. The trees were given to the newly-formed friends by Groundwork Hertfordshire.

Mr Madoc said: "I must say how impressed I am by the display of strength and solidarity of members of this community. This is an informed community, articulate, genuinely prepared to argue intensely for the survival and betterment of the Victoria Playing Fields."

The planting ceremony was organised by the Friends and the Tree Alliance, which is made up of St Albans Civic Society and St Albans Community Forest Association, with the help of St Albans District Council.

The friends are keen to safeguard the fields and claim there are more funds available for tree planting and improvements on the site.