Woodland opens with 210,000 newly planted trees
Over the past five years, 210,000 trees have been planted across the site near Knapton
- Published
A total of 210,000 trees have been planted in time for the opening of a new community woodland in North Yorkshire.
Forestry England, City of York Council and the White Rose Forest all worked together to create the site near Knapton.
They said the 78-hectare (193-acre) York Community Woodland would offer picturesque walking routes, boost biodiversity, improve air quality and help mitigate soil erosion and flooding.
Gareth Parry, from Forestry England, said he was "delighted to see the project come to life, knowing it will serve as a thriving natural sanctuary and a vital resource for generations to come".
Mr Parry, forest management director for Forestry England in Yorkshire, added: "Working with City of York Council and the White Rose Forest has enabled us to collectively work on a shared mission to create and nurture resilient green spaces that benefit both people and wildlife.
"This woodland stands as a powerful example of what communities can achieve together."
Forestry England said it had wanted to create the project as it had a goal to plant at least 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres) of new woodland across the country by 2026.
The opening of the woodland was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony
Over the past five years, tens of thousands of trees were planted in the burgeoning woodland by members of various local volunteer groups.
City of York Councillor Jenny Kent said it was "a real cause for celebration".
"Over 210,000 new trees have been planted, one for each resident of York, to create a wonderful space for nature and people alike, and help mitigate against some of our city’s carbon emissions.
"It was planned by the people of York, for the people of York, and it is a tribute to a unique partnership," she added.
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