Haven for threatened red squirrels in biggest new forest for 30 years

THE largest forest to be planted in England in three decades has been approved, in a scheme conservationists hope will boost the red squirrel population.

More than 600,000 trees will be planted at Doddington North Moor, near Wooler in Northumberland. The 860-acre forest will be the largest of its kind planted in England for more than 30 years.

Therese Coffey, the environment minister, said: “Doddington North Moor will make a significant contribution to our drive to plant 11million trees and is a fantastic example of the kind of tree-planting schemes we want to see more of.”

The area is in a designated red squirrel buffer zone, where experts will help protect the threatened species from approaching greys. There are estimated to be only 140,000 red squirrels left in Britain, compared with more than 2.5 million greys.

Planting of the new forest is expected to begin in March and will take place over two to three years.