National park drive to create woodland

MORE LANDOWNERS are being asked to commit plots to the creation of new woodland within the North York Moors National Park as part of a major environmental drive.

More than 65,000 trees have been planted over the last three years with the help of farmers and private estate owners but ambitions for the project go further.

All the costs of the tree planting is paid for as part of the North York Moors National Park Authority’s Woodland Creation Grant Scheme.

The authority is keen to impress the wide benefits of new woodland, from supporting wildlife, to slowing the flow of water downstream and providing shelter for livestock. It said trees were also an ideal alternative to bracken on unproductive slopes.

Alasdair Fagan, the authority’s woodland creation officer, said: “Twenty-three per cent of the national park is currently covered by woodland and forest, however only two per cent is ancient seminatural woodland, which is the highest quality for biodiversity.

“We therefore want to work alongside landowners to create a lasting legacy of sustainable, native woodland within our muchloved national park.”

Funding from the Woodland Creation Grant Scheme is available for plots larger than one hectare, but can be made up of multiple pieces of land. New trees must be mixed deciduous species that produce a woodland canopy that consists of more than 20 per cent mature trees.

Funding is available for all costs in the first year, including the trees, labour, materials and fencing. It also covers five years of maintenance.