National Trust creating new woodlands including in Hampshire

519 hectares of new woodlands to be created including at Hinton Ampner <i>(Image: Charles Elliman)</i>
519 hectares of new woodlands to be created including at Hinton Ampner (Image: Charles Elliman)
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An ambitious series of planting projects is aiming to create 519 hectares of new woodlands across England, including at Hinton Ampner, near Winchester.

This is part of a collaborative effort by the National Trust and England's Community Forests.

The projects are funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (Defra) Nature for Climate Fund, which has provided £7.1m.

The new woodlands and woody habitats, equivalent to more than 800 football pitches, will help mitigate climate change and provide homes for nature.

The initiative will also create accessible woods near towns and cities for people and communities to enjoy.

READ MORE: Ninety hectares of floodplain restored in Test Valley through major project

Nearly 416,000 trees will be planted across England (Image: Charles Elliman) By the end of March, nearly 416,000 trees will have been planted.

One of the largest projects is at Lunt in Sefton, Merseyside, where work is underway to plant 78 hectares with almost 93,000 trees.

This land was recently purchased from Sefton Council by the National Trust.

John Deakin, head of trees and woodland at the National Trust, said: "We've found lots of natural synergy with the Community Forests in the way we approach woodland and tree establishment to give maximum value for people, nature and climate.

"Trees are our most powerful tool in locking up carbon and mitigating climate change."

At Buckland Abbey in Devon, more than 30,000 trees are being planted in the Tavy Valley.

SEE MORE: Meet the volunteers planting thousands of trees for future generations to enjoy

In Gloucestershire at Sherborne Farm on the Sherborne Park Estate, the National Trust is working with a tenant to plant 53,000 trees.

Paul Nolan, Chair of England’s Community Forests and director of The Mersey Forest, said: "We’re really pleased to be working closely with the National Trust on woodland creation projects across the country.

"Increasing tree cover in our communities is vital for our health and wellbeing and to help us adapt to our changing climate."

These projects are part of a wider success story for all tree planting in England over the past year.

The last planting season saw tree planting rates increase by 52 per cent from the previous year with 5,529 hectares of new woodland planted.

This marks significant progress towards meeting the Environment Act target of achieving 16.5 per cent tree and woodland cover in England by 2050.

The conservation charities' partnership with England’s Community Forests directly contributes to its commitment to plant and establish 20 million trees by 2030.

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