A project to create England’s biggest native woodland by planting 100,000 trees will let struggling species thrive while protecting residents from floods, conservationists say. The 561-hectare valley of Snaizeholme in the Yorkshire Dales, near the town of Hawes, was covered in woodland centuries ago but is now almost barren.
Just five percent of the Dales is covered with trees, while ancient woodland – the most beneficial for wildlife – makes up just one per cent of that area.
The Woodland Trust now wants to raise £8million for a decades-long restoration scheme, providing habitats for threatened species, such as woodland birds and black grouse.
Trees slow the flow of water on the hillsides, which can improve the wetland areas for otters, kingfishers and other species, while also reducing the flood risk for locals.
Carbon-absorbing peatland will be restored via the trapping of water in the valley, the Trust said.
Additionally, an ancient wood where red squirrels live will be expanded, while the Dales’ dry stone walls will be maintained to offer shelter for small mammals and lizards.
New trees will be mostly native broad-leaved species such as alder, silver and downy birch, willow, aspen, rowan, hawthorn and blackthorn, with montane species on higher hills.
Al Nash, of the Woodland Trust, said: “I love the Dales but the one thing it lacks in many areas is an abundance of trees.
“We’ll be giving nature and biodiversity a big boost and creating a vibrant mosaic of habitats – and it’s a rare opportunity to create a sizeable wildlife haven for England’s North.
“The work we do here will restore an entire ecosystem, lock away carbon for years to come, help improve water quality and mitigate flooding in the area.”
The first phase of the planting, starting this weekend, received funding from the White Rose Forest, the Government and corporate donors.
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