Plans to plant millions of trees across Northumberland are underway, creating new forests and marking the start of wider engagement to deliver more tree planting in the county.
Partners from the Northumberland Woodland Creation Partnership came together today (19 Nov) to attend the official launch event and ceremonial tree plant at Kirkharle Courtyard. The partnership aims to work alongside landowners, farmers and communities to enhance tree establishment across the county.
Cllr Glen Sanderson, Leader of Northumberland County Council, said: “The Great Northumberland Forest is a plan to plant millions of trees, creating more wooded landscapes across the county by 2030 to help tackle the big challenges facing society such as climate change and biodiversity decline, while promoting health and wellbeing, and supporting a thriving local economy.”
The Forest has been developing the first phase of delivery with two Forestry England Woodland Creation schemes at Rusty Knowe in Kielder and Monkridge near Otterburn. A total of one million trees will be planted across 500 hectares of land between 2020 and 2024.
Sir William Worsley, Chair of the Forestry Commission, said: “This Woodland Creation Partnership successfully brings together key stakeholders from across the county to facilitate a change in pace and accelerate tree planting in Northumberland, planting the right tree in the right place for the right reasons. The Forestry Commission looks forward to our continued work with partners in Northumberland to help deliver well designed forests and woodlands for time to come.”
Jean Davidson, Chair of Northumberland National Park Authority, said: “We are delighted Northumberland National Park Authority is playing a key part in the Northumberland Woodland Creation Partnership. The Authority is keen to ensure that tree planting enhances the landscape and biodiversity of Northumberland National Park, therefore it is pleasing that the Great Northumberland Forest has adopted the approach of ‘right tree, right place’. We look forward to working with our partners to achieve a sustainable and more wooded landscape in Northumberland.”
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Posted On: 22/11/2021