Forestry Commission to fund woodland in the Hebden Bridge area

Saturday, 19 December 2009

The Forestry Commission has pledged £200,000 to create 133 hectares (332 acres) of new woodland in Yorkshire and the Humber, including Hebden Bridge, this year 2009 – and more cash is on offer to support other valuable planting schemes.

The money has been earmarked under the latest round of the Woodland Creation Grant scheme, which aims to back projects which produce maximum gains for wildlife, recreation, land reclamation and landscape enhancement.

Now forest chiefs have added to the kitty to help turn the region green.

Nigel Rylance, Grants and Regulations Officer with the Forestry Commission, explained:“We’ve put a further £50,000 into the pot to support planting this winter or next Autumn. So if you have a good idea which will help the environment we might be able to give you a grant. Over the past few years our support has made a tremendous difference, allowing land managers to create woodlands on people’s doorsteps, boost wildlife habitats and turn derelict areas into verdant beauty spots. The new woodland will also help combat climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide as the trees grow.”

Schemes grant-aided this year include a plan to extend an ancient woodland site near Easingwold, North Yorkshire, by planting 4.3 hectares (10.7 acres) of broadleaf trees, along with projects to nurture new native wooodlands at Bolton Abbey, near Skipton (2 hectares/5 acres) and Hebden Bridge , West Yorkshire(1.5 hectares/3.75 acres).

The Commission says that forestry makes a real contribution to sustainable development, providing social and environmental benefits arising from planting and managing attractive, as well as productive, woodlands.

For more information on the English Woodland Grant Scheme contact 01904 448778 see this webpage

Source: Forestry Commission