Woodlands plea to safeguard Yorkshire Dales’ future

LANDOWNERS in the Yorkshire Dales are being urged to plant more woodlands in a bid to safeguard the famous landscapes for future generations.
Woodland planting on Swarthgill Farm, Outershaw which won the John Boddy trophy for sustainable forestry.Woodland planting on Swarthgill Farm, Outershaw which won the John Boddy trophy for sustainable forestry.
Woodland planting on Swarthgill Farm, Outershaw which won the John Boddy trophy for sustainable forestry.

The woodland creation programme will be overseen by the charity, Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT), and the team is currently looking for suitable sites to plant with a mixture of native broadleaf trees next winter.

A pot of more than £100,000 is available to support the project and create new woodland habitats as part of a long-term investment which will help support wildlife and help create sustainable landscapes.

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The YDMT has helped to plant more than 1.1m native broadleaf trees across the Yorkshire Dales and Nidderdale since 1996 through the Dales Woodland Restoration Programme, delivered by a partnership including YDMT, Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and the Forestry Commission.

The Woodland Development Officer at the YDMT, Chris Lodge, said: “We’d love to hear from any farmers and landowners that might be interested in working with us to plant new woodlands.

“As well as providing funding for suitable projects, we can offer expertise, guidance and help with the design and planning of the site, together with advice on the long term income potential available to woodland owners through the Woodland Carbon Code.”

A grant covering up to 100 per cent of the cost of creating the new woodland could be available to landowners through YDMT and partners, although this depends upon eligibility for the scheme.

To find out more, people can contact Mr Lodge on 015242 51002 or email him at [email protected].