This National Tree Week, it’s now easier than ever for people to get funding advice for tree planting in the Lake District National Park.
The Lake District National Park Authority, Forestry Commission, and Natural England have produced a new booklet and webpage clearly setting out how farmers and landowners can access advice and grant funding for tree planting.
There are also details on what to consider when planning tree and woodland planting, plus numerous contacts for those who can give further advice.
The Lake District National Park Partnership's ambition is to increase woodland cover from 13 percent to at least 17 percent to contribute to the Government's legally binding target for tree and woodland cover in England of 16.5 percent by 2050.
Andrew Herbert, the Lake District National Park Authority’s Lead Strategy Adviser for Farming, Nature, and Landscape said:
“This ambitious target means creating an average of over 200 hectares of new wood habitats per year. This can range from woodland and forests to wood pasture, scrub to hedgerows, and individual trees.
“There are so many benefits that can be realized by planting trees, including shade and shelter for livestock, improved soils, farm diversification, and locking up carbon. By expanding and linking up existing woody habitats, wildlife can move to colonize and adapt to a changing climate.
“We want to make it as simple as possible for people to find out if their land is suitable, what species are best, and to explore a variety of funding initiatives. There is a significant amount of support available to landowners in the form of funding, grant aid, and advice, and many organizations can advise on the best way forward.”
Colin Binnie, Partnership and Expertise Manager at the Forestry Commission added:
"Establishing new woodland can be immensely rewarding for all those involved and can leave a lasting legacy and resource for future generations. These new guidelines are here to help people get started. They provide information on the different grants and practical advice available and highlight the main points to consider when creating woodland in the Lake District National Park - an incredibly sensitive and special landscape."
More information on the New Woodland Creation Guidelines can be found here: Woodland creation: Lake District National Park.
Our photo shows tree planting, as it’s now easier than ever to get advice and funding to support tree planting in the Lake District.
