Influential members of the Durham community this week visited the Woodland Trust’s site at Low Burnhall, one its landmark sites for the whole of the north east of England, to ask questions about its plans for the area and to enjoy a picnic while taking in the spectacular Wearside views.
Guests included Sir Paul Nicholson, Lord Lieutenant of County Durham, and Lady Sarah Nicholson; Dennis James Southwell, The Right Worshipful The Mayor of Durham, and Elspeth Southwell, The Mayoress of Durham and Roberta Blackman-Woods MP, Labour Member of Parliament for the City of Durham.
Roberta Blackman-Woods said: "I am so pleased that the Woodland Trust has been able to secure the funding for this development in Low Burnhall. I am sure it will prove to be a fantastic resource for the people of Durham. It will provide fantastic opportunities for walking with stunning across our beautiful countryside."
Also present were representatives of key funding bodies which have helped taken the Trust’s fund raising over the £1 million mark, bringing it closer to its £1.5 million target. They included members of the County Durham Environmental Trust (CDENT), which has given £106,725 to the project, and of the Hadrian Trust.
John Wearmouth, CDENT chairman, said: "The Woodland Trust is to be congratulated on its initiative in opening up this wonderfully scenic area to the south of Durham City for all to enjoy.”
The Woodland Trust acquired the 68 hectare (168 acre) Low Burnhall site last year. It will provide a valuable green space for local people and visitors just two miles south of Durham city centre which will complement the work of Durham Wildlife Trust and Necklace Park along the Wear valley.
Between 2010 and 2012, 11 weeks of woodland activity days will be held here for local schools, allowing over 3,000 children and community groups to plant trees and take part in other environmental activities.
Gary Haley, the Trust’s woodland officer for Low Burnhall, said: “It was really exciting to show some of Durham’s most influential people around the site last week. This was our opportunity to show how we are planning to use the funds generously donated by local people and businesses to create a great natural asset here for the community in the near future.
“I hope they were inspired by the day, and will want to come again with their families on our community planting days next year.”
In early 2010 the Trust will be embarking on a woodland and multi habitat creation project involving the planting of 86,000 new native broadleaf trees such as oak, ash, birch and shrub species including hazel, elder and hawthorn.
By creating new walking routes to improve public access to the neighbouring land and links with existing footpaths, visitors will have the feeling of walking through a real forest within as little as 12 years.
There will also be a wildflower meadow and a wetland.
The new trees will link up with areas of established woodland, extending an existing woodland corridor further south towards Sunderland Bridge, for the benefit of people and wildlife and to help to mitigate the effects of climate change.
In particular, the new trees will help to buffer and protect Low Burnhall’s small pocket of precious ancient woodland – this is woodland that has been continuously wooded since at least 1600, but much of it has been in existence since the last Ice Age. It is the UK’s equivalent of the rainforest and our richest wildlife habitat.
Gary Haley said: “Anyone can come and visit Low Burnhall now – it’s free, there are fantastic views from the highpoint and it’s a great place to bring the family with a picnic.”
Low Burnhall is in a conservation area, adjoining the conservation area covering the City of Durham and Shincliffe. There is already a public access footpath which runs through the site’s main entrance and extends north-east through the pasture area towards the Houghall College estate.
Anyone who would like to help the project can do so by donating just £15 to plant a tree here - log onto www.plantatree.org.uk and click on Low Burnhall.Notes to editors
For media enquiries contact:
The Woodland Trust Press Office on 01476 581121, email: media@woodlandtrust.org.uk
The Woodland Trust:
The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. It has 300,000 members and supporters.
The Trust has three key aims: i) to enable the creation of more native woods and places rich in trees ii) to protect native woods, trees and their wildlife for the future iii) to inspire everyone to enjoy and value woods and trees
Established in 1972, the Woodland Trust now has over 1,000 sites in its care covering approximately 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres). Access to its sites is free.