Community forest grows by 240,000 trees in a year

Saplings planted in Preston, near Hull, as part of the Humber Forest initiative

Almost 240,000 trees have been planted over the past year by a community forestry project for East Yorkshire and northern Lincolnshire.

The Humber Forest is one of 15 similar schemes established near major towns and cities across the UK.

It is hoped the trees will help to reduce soil erosion and flooding, improve air quality and create wildlife habitats.

The project is being supported by volunteers, including villagers who planted 576 trees alongside Dent Road, Cottingham, to create a community woodland.

More than 400,000 trees, including 238,000 in the past 12 months, have been planted since the Humber Forest was established three years ago.

It is part of the wider Northern Forest project, which is due to see 50 million trees planted from coast to coast and around cities such as Liverpool, York, Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield and Hull by 2043.

More than 1.9 million trees were planted for the Northern Forest, which incorporates the Humber Forest, in 2023

Grants are offered to farmers, community groups and other landowners to plant hedgerows and trees.

Rob Meadley, a farmer based in North Frodingham, near Driffield, has planted five acres (two hectares) of trees in memory of his late father, Phil.

The trees have been planted in areas which had problems with drainage, and it is hoped the woodland will help slow the flow of water during periods of heavy rain.

“The project was aimed at increasing the biodiversity and connectivity across the farm and will be a lasting legacy for my father,” Mr Meadley said.

The Humber Forest is managed by East Riding of Yorkshire Council, with support from Natural England and the Woodland Trust, and money from the government's Nature for Climate Fund.

Tree saplings are grown at Mires Beck Nursery in North Cave, a charity that supports adults with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and autism.

Councillor Paul West, the council's cabinet member for environment and transport, described the forest as a "fantastic initiative" and encouraged more landowners and volunteers to get involved via the Humber Forest website.

Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.