Trees from Belvoir Castle will be contributing to the rebuilding of Notre Dame Cathedral following last week's devastating fire.

TREES from Belvoir Castle will be contributing to the rebuilding of Notre Dame Cathedral following last week's devastating fire.

Belvoir is one of more than 100 of the UK’s most famous estates to volunteer valuable trees as a gift from the UK to France for the restoration of the iconic landmark’s roof.

It is estimated that the original roof, built in the 12th century, was constructed from 1,300 mature oak trees.

The estates are all members of Historic Houses, the association for independently owned historic homes and gardens, and the trees pledged are estimated to have a combined market value of well over £100,000. But the donors are keen to emphasise that the timbers used in buildings like Notre Dame are about something that money alone can’t buy.

James Birch, owner of Doddington Hall, one of the estates that has pledged timber, and President of Historic Houses, said: "The fire at Notre Dame is a terrible tragedy. It is also a reminder of how our great buildings provide a cultural back drop to everyday life that is often only recognised when they are threatened. Some of our members have first-hand experience of the damage and destruction of catastrophic fires. It’s fitting that we would offer to help restore such an important part of the world’s heritage."