Major tree planting under way as new research reveals potential to create massive carbon sink in South Downs

Major tree planting under way as new research reveals potential to create massive carbon sink in South Downs - South Downs National Park

map of the south downs with icons makring new tree planting — Here is a map showing all the new sites benefitting from Trees for the Downs planting (Click for full size)

Over 28,000 trees are being planted across the South Downs in memory of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth as a new report reveals the huge potential to fight climate change with woodland creation.

As National Tree Week gets under way, scores of trees are going into the ground at more than 30 sites across the South Downs National Park.

Over 12,000 trees were planted last winter, and a further 16,000 are being put into the ground this coming winter, as part of the Trees for the Downs and Queen’s Canopy initiative.

It comes as a new interactive mapping tool has revealed the colossal potential to create even more woodland across Sussex and Hampshire.

The study covered just over 439,000 hectares (all of Sussex plus Hampshire’s portion of the National Park) and found almost 23,000 hectares is highly suitable for creating new woods – around five per cent of the land area. Of that, around 5,500 hectares lies in the South Downs National Park, while woodlands could be created in other areas, including Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, such as High Weald, and urban areas.

The potential new area of woodland – twice the size of Manchester – could store up to 37,667,500 tonnes of CO₂ after 100 years.

The research, led by the National Park Authority, Sussex Nature Partnership and Woodland Trust, has produced a detailed “Woodland Opportunity Map” showing precisely where new trees could be planted, as well as those areas that are not suitable for major tree planting.