RESIDENTS representing 11 decades have gathered at a community woodland to mark the 950th anniversary of a castle built by one of William the Conqueror’s closest allies. The event saw Richmond residents born in 1921, 2021 and every decade in between plant an avenue of oaks at Rufus Woods, named after Aan Rufus, Lord of Richemont in Upper Normandy, who commissioned Richmond Castle in 1071. The woodland is taking shape on a site a hectare site south of the old racecourse which has been offered at a peppercorn rent by landowners including the Earl of Ronaldshay. However, like many of the anniversary plans, an ambition to involve the community in the planting of 950 native trees had to be altered because of Covid restrictions.