This summer the White Rose Forest team have been carrying out annual inspections of woodland creation sites as part of the quality assurance process for our Government-funded ‘Trees for Climate’ programme, which provides support and funding for landowners who want to plant trees on their land.
The team visited more than 200 White Rose Forest-supported across North and West Yorkshire, from large-scale landscape restoration projects to small urban pocket parks. As the Community Forest for the region, the White Rose Forest supports a diverse range of projects that deliver lasting environmental and social benefits for local communities. Trees and woodlands are established in locations where they can have the greatest impact, helping to improve air quality, reduce flood risk, enhance biodiversity, support health and wellbeing, and strengthen climate resilience through increased shade and cooling during periods of extreme weather.
Just as important as planting the trees is ensuring that those trees successfully establish and grow to maturity, which is why all tree and woodland creation projects supported by the White Rose Forest are provided with ongoing establishment support and regular monitoring over the 15-year lifetime of the grant.
During a site inspection team members take photographs and record the condition of the trees and surrounding area. Early results from inspections this summer indicate that approximately 50% of sites are establishing well, 38% of sites need some minor intervention and 12% of sites will need further support from the landowner to help them thrive. Establishment interventions include tasks such as replacing stakes and protective tubes, weeding and re-stocking where trees have failed. Team members are now working with each landowner to agree an action plan for the coming planting season.
Tree planting season takes place between November and March each year. If you would like to support the White Rose Forest or work with us as a landowner, please contact us. If you're interesting in volunteer opportunities, keep an eye out on our Eventbrite page and follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn.