East Yorkshire Community Forest To Host Fact Finding Event

Landowners are being invited to play a part in creating the Northern Forest by attending a fact-finding event hosted by HEYwoods, East Yorkshire’s community forest partnership.

The day-long event, Funding for Woodland Creation in the Northern Forest, will take place on Friday, 15 March at Bishop Burton College.  It will give information and funding advice to those with the land where trees and woodland could be planted.

The event will cover funding options available from the Forestry Commission, support available from the Woodland Trust for woodland creation in the East Riding and Hull as well as information on the role of citizen scientists in tree health surveillance.

There will also be an opportunity for people to discuss specific projects with funders as well as a guided site visit to a woodland creation project at Goodmanham near Market Weighton.

Funding for the creation of the Northern Forest was announced by the Government in January 2018 and working with the four community forests across the North of England and the Woodland Trust, the aim is to plant around 50 million trees over 25 years.

The Northern Forest will stretch from Liverpool to Hull and the East Riding taking in the major cities of Chester, Manchester, Sheffield and Leeds and will deliver major environmental, social and economic benefits that complement the significant growth, investment and new infrastructure that is planned for the north of England.

The first year of tree planting is almost complete and by the end of March, it is hoped that over 60,000 new trees will have been planted across the East Riding and Hull.

Councillor Andy Burton, the portfolio holder for economic investment and planning delivery at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “This is a great opportunity for people in the East Riding and Hull to take part in the creation of the Northern Forest.

“This event will allow those who are interested to explore the full range of funding opportunities available to them for tree and woodland planting at any scale and location.”

The event, which is supported by the Forestry Commission and the Woodland Trust, is free but registration is essential.

People wishing to attend should email their name, organisation (if relevant), email address and any special dietary requirements to heywoods@eastriding.gov.uk no later than Thursday, 7 March.