Over 81,000 trees planted across Cheshire and Merseyside in the last year thanks to Trees for Climate programme

Nearly 44 hectares of new woodland has been planted across Cheshire and Merseyside over the last year as part of a national initiative to provide natural solutions to climate change.

Launched in November 2020, Trees for Climate is a national multi-million pound woodland creation programme, part of the Government-led Nature for Climate Fund.

The Mersey Forest is one of 12 Community Forests across England delivering the programme locally as part of their work to transform landscapes and communities in and around towns and cities across the area.

The programme is playing a significant part in the Government’s commitment to address climate change and carbon mitigation through tree planting. The 446 hectares of woodland planted in total across England in year one of the programme, will store around 97,860 tonnes of carbon over the lifetime of the trees.

The new woodlands will provide many benefits for communities across the region, including playing their part to reduce flood risk by helping to increase water infiltration and reduce surface water run-off, delivering more home-grown timber, providing more places for nature and biodiversity to thrive, and increase people’s access to and enjoyment of woodland.

Director of The Mersey Forest, Paul Nolan, said: “We’ve worked with a wide range of landowners, partners, schools and community groups to get trees planted across the area in year one of the programme, overcoming some of the challenges that the pandemic presented.

“These woodlands will bring a wealth of benefits for both the landowners and our local communities for years to come, playing their part to help capture carbon, boost biodiversity and improve local quality of life and levels of health and wellbeing. We’re looking forward to getting started on the next planting season now, with plans to get even more trees in the ground this coming year.”

The Mersey Forest and Cheshire West and Chester Council are playing a leading role nationally by acting as the legal accountable body for the whole national Trees for Climate programme.

The next planting season starts this month, with plans to plant over 140 hectares across the region by the end of March 2022.

Any landowners or farmers with land suitable for tree planting should contact The Mersey Forest team by calling: 01925 816217 or emailing: mail@merseyforest.org.uk.

Find out more about The Mersey Forest’s work by visiting: www.merseyforest.org.uk