Two-year woodland project nears end

The Selby Community Trust is overseeing the scheme to create the 5,500-tree woodland across a seven-and-a-half acre site on Bondgate in the town, and over the last few months footpaths have been laid, benches put in place and car parking improved.

Pupils from Selby Abbey County Primary School, Selby Community Primary School and Selby High School will plant native species including ash and birch on Tuesday next week and December 7.

The trust’s chairman, Steve Shaw-Wright, said: “Protecting the environment is part of Selby Community Trust’s rationale.

“Planting trees and safeguarding green space for future generations is important both to me personally and the trust. Selby has seen many of its green spaces built on in recent years and the town will be subject further development in the near future, this makes it more important to develop green spaces that today’s residents and future generations can enjoy.

“This tree planting will be the first of many such events. I will not be around to see the community woodland come to maturity.

“However, as guardians of the environment we have an obligation to think long term and I believe that future trustees of the trust will look back and be grateful that we undertook this project.

“You only have to look at the beautiful mature trees in Selby cemetery, some planted more than 70 years ago, to get a small glimpse of what delights are to come for Selby Community Woodland.”

Grants totalling £77,000 have been secured from the Big Lottery, The Big Tree Plant, Drax Power, Eggborough Power, North Yorkshire County Council and the Selby Central Community Engagement Forum.

More information is available from the community trust’s clerk, Tina Mason, on 01757 708449.