A special celebration has taken place at a new Nottinghamshire woodland to mark the planting of thousands of trees across the county in the last five years.
More than 757,000 trees have been planted on 577 hectares since 2020 through the Defra-funded Trees for Climate programme and delivered locally via the Greenwood Community Forest initiative, hosted by Nottinghamshire County Council’s conservation team.
To celebrate the ‘fantastic’ achievements of the programme, a ceremonial event took place on Tuesday at the Thorney Abbey Farm site, near Southwell – one of the new wooded areas which has been created in Nottinghamshire.
County council chairman, Councillor Richard Butler, planted a young Bramley Apple tree during the event, which was attended by representatives from Defra, Forestry Commission, Woodland Trust, Sherwood Forest Trust as well as the Greenwood Community Forest team.
Students from Nottingham Trent University’s Brackenhurst campus in Southwell were also in attendance planting trees as part of their environmental and land management course.
Retired Southwell businessman, Colonel Roger Merryweather, whose great-grandfather Henry was granted permission to take cuttings from the original Bramley Apple tree to sell, planted a Merryweather Damson tree. Christine Channing, of the Merryweather family, also planted a tree.
Cllr John Cottee, the county council’s Deputy Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, paid tribute to the tireless efforts of everyone involved with the woodland creation scheme.
He said: “Planting thousands of extra trees is going to bring so many benefits to our local communities, including creating new habitats for wildlife, improving air quality, and giving residents an improved experience.
“It goes without saying that I very much look forward to seeing these wonderful new woodlands grow and mature.”
The Greenwood Community Forest, which is one of 15 community forests across the country, has gone from strength to strength since 2020 and has also led to the creation of key partnerships with organisations such as the Woodland Trust.
Working with partners has enabled the purchase of three sites totalling 106 hectares – including Monarch Wood at Brinsley, Thorney Abbey Farm and Debdale Hill Wood at Little Carlton.
Newark and Sherwood District Council has agreed to fund 30% of the trees that have been planted at Debdale Hill Wood and Thorney Abbey Farm – while carbon associated with tree planting will be used to generate funding to reinvest in maintaining woodland creation sites.
Nick Tucker, Greenwood Community Forest’s Woodland Creation Project Manager, said: “The Trees for Climate programme is a fantastic initiative and has enabled us, with vital support from our partners, to drive forward key projects like this to help improve our communities.
“Planting thousands of trees will increase Nottinghamshire’s Net Zero ambitions as natural carbon capture and serve as a green space that residents will enjoy now and for future generations.
“This programme will ultimately provide a huge uplift in the amount of woodland creation across the county, making it a better place to live, improving biodiversity and resilience to climate change as well as creating jobs and boosting community engagement.
“Bringing employment opportunities, enhancing health and wellbeing through access and participation in nature and extending and protecting habitats has all been possible thanks to the support of Defra as our main funder and the enthusiasm and support from partners, staff and the communities we serve.”
Wayne Bexton, the county council’s Director of Green Growth, Investment and Assets, said: “This work is increasing biodiversity, mitigating climate change and delivering true social value. I’m really proud of all the team and our partners.”
• New pedestrian crossing installation near Edwalton retail park
