Special celebration held at Greenwood Community Forest site in Southwell as more than 757,000 trees planted across Nottinghamshire
A brand-new woodland has played host to a special celebration, marking the planting of thousands of trees across the county.
More than 757,000 trees have been planted on 577 hectares across Nottinghamshire since 2020, through the Defra-funded Trees for Climate programme — which has been delivered by the Greenwood Community Forest initiative, hosted by Nottinghamshire County Council.
The celebration took place on Tuesday (March 18) at one of the new woodlands, at Thorney Abbey Farm site, near Southwell.
John Cottee, the council’s deputy cabinet member for transport and environment, 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.”
County council chairman, 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 also attended to plant trees as part of their environmental and land management course.
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, and Christine Channing, of the Merryweather family, also planted a tree.
The Greenwood Community Forest, one of 15 community forests across the country, has led to the creation of key partnerships with organisations such as the Woodland Trust — allowing it to by and plant up three sites totalling 106 hectares — Thorney Abbey Farm, Debdale Hill Wood in Little Carlton, and Monarch Wood in Brinsley.
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.”
