Western Daily Press (Saturday)
Call for help in creating new Exmoor woods
GREEN-FINGERED volunteers are being called on to help establish Exmoor’s next generation of trees this autumn.
As the UK prepares to welcome world leaders to the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow at the end of the month, Exmoor National Park Authority says it is keen to send out the message that Exmoor is doing its bit and remind people that no single person’s actions are too small.
Graeme McVittie, senior woodlands officer for Exmoor National Park, said: “COP26 will set the tone for how climate change is tackled on the global stage.
“The scale of the problem is utterly daunting, and I think many people are looking for ways to contribute positively. Our message to all those who care about Exmoor is that everyone can be involved in helping grow the trees of the future. Our woodlands are a vital part of the solution.”
An estimated five million tonnes of carbon are stored in Exmoor’s treescape – one million in hedgerows and freestanding trees alone – helping to capture around 50,000 tonnes of carbon every year.
The National Park wants to see woodland cover on Exmoor increased from 13.5% to at least 17% by 2030 – the amount recommended by the Government’s independent Committee on Climate Change.
To help reach that target, the CareMoor Woods & Trees appeal was launched earlier this year. Money from the appeal will support the creation of ‘Bye Wood’ and the planting of 13,000 saplings on National Park Authority land near Winsford.
The new woodland will span 12 hectares when complete and be signed up to the UK Woodland Carbon Code, helping to lock away around 2,600 tonnes of carbon over the first 100 years while delivering important benefits for people and nature.
Previous donations to CareMoor have also helped to establish a new community tree nursery near the National Park Authority’s Exford depot, with further funding from Devon Environment Foundation. A major focus of the nursery will be to help safeguard the genetic heritage of Exmoor’s native trees, but also to help its woodlands adapt to a changing climate and promote skills in tree planting and management among volunteers and the local community.
Rob Wilson-North, head of conservation and access at Exmoor
National Park Authority, added: “We hope the trees we plant today will in time become significant places for people to enjoy and cherish and we’d love more volunteers and local businesses to get behind the cause. Crucially, increasing tree cover in the right places will help future generations by contributing to sustainable livelihoods for our rural communities, while also helping to tackle climate change.”
Volunteers can support tree planting on Exmoor this autumn by either signing up to collect and grow tree seeds on Exmoor towards the new community tree nursery, join a tree planting weekend taking place at Bye Wood on November 6-7, or dedicate a tree through the CareMoor Woods & Trees appeal.
To find out more about how to support the appeal and to sign up to tree planting events visit www.exmoor-nationalpark.gov.uk/ caremoor