Work starts planting almost 100,000 trees

Trees are being planted on 78 hectares of land in Lunt recently purchased from Sefton Council by the National Trust

Work is under way to plant almost 100,000 trees on Merseyside in a bid to fight climate change.

The tree planting project in Lunt in Sefton is part of the National Trust and England's Community Forests' national Trees for Climate programme.

It aims to create 519 hectares (1282 acres) of new woodlands and woody habitats across England, equivalent in size to more than 800 football pitches.

In Lunt, which is the largest tree planting project, trees will be planted on 78 hectares of land recently purchased from Sefton Council by the National Trust.

The largest tree planting project in the Trees for Climate programme is in Lunt, Sefton

Part-funded by The Mersey Forest's Trees for Climate programme, the National Trust said the acquisition would connect with the Community Forest network, open up access to the countryside for local communities and join a mosaic of nature-rich landscapes together.

John Deakin, of the National Trust, said: "Trees are our most powerful tool in locking up carbon and mitigating climate change.

"Working in partnership allows us to plant even more trees, restore more spaces for nature and store carbon on an even bigger scale."

He added: "Meanwhile, with each new area of planting connecting with existing habitats plus extending the size of local Community Forest areas, we can ensure that more people have opportunities to connect with nature close to where they live, something we all need."

Paul Nolan, chair of England's Community Forests and director of The Mersey Forest, said: "Increasing tree cover in our communities is vital for our health and wellbeing and to help us adapt to our changing climate, which is becoming more and more challenging.

"Trees can help cool our towns and cities, help alleviate flooding, prevent soil erosion and cut pollution."

He said working alongside landowners, the project would help boost biodiversity, local economies and people's access to nature.