The Woodland Trust has announced a new string to its woodland creation bow. For the first time ever, the conservation charity is offering funding to help landowners in Northern Ireland experience the many benefits of woodland.
With almost four decades of expertise in woodland creation, the Woodland Trust cites compelling reasons for landowners to plant trees, including their ability to provide shelter and shade, harbour wildlife, prevent flooding and improve water and air quality.
And now, with rising energy costs and vivid memories of harsh winters, more and more people are planning to plant for wood fuel. With careful management, home-grown firewood can be available within 10 to 15 years of planting, with annual sustainable supplies thereafter. Around 2 to 3 hectares of new native woodland will produce enough fuel to heat a typical three-bedroom house.
Last winter, landowners planted over 130 hectares (321 acres) of new native woodland across Northern Ireland. This was made possible thanks to help and advice from the Woodland Trust, with funding coming from Forest Service’s Woodland Grant Scheme.
This month, the Woodland Trust is offering an alternative boost to would-be tree planters. Those ineligible for government funding and wishing to plant a minimum of 0.2 hectares (0.5 acres) are invited to apply for financial support from the Trust’s MOREwoods programme. Individuals must be prepared to contribute at least 50 per cent of the cost of the scheme.
Jackie Morgan, the Woodland Trust’s advice and partnerships manager, enthuses: “We’ve already had a great response from landowners wishing to turn unused areas of land into woodland. We’re continuing to offer comprehensive help, advice and information on Forest Service’s Woodland Grant Scheme. And, for the first time ever, we are inviting landowners who may not be eligible for the Woodland Grant Scheme to apply for assistance from our MOREwoods initiative. Simply get in touch, and we’ll lead you down the best route.”
The Woodland Trust is calling for a massive increase in tree planting with its new campaign ‘More Trees, More Good’. The charity has an aspiration to double native woodland cover over the next 50 years, but stresses that it can’t do it alone. The emphasis is therefore on making it as easy as possible for landowners to experience the beauty and many benefits of woodland.
Whatever your reason for planting, within as little as 12 years you could be walking through your own flourishing young forest of oak, ash, cherry and other favourites.
Applications for funding via the Trust’s MOREwoods project must be received by 14 February 2011, with tree planting taking place this March and April.
To find out more, telephone the Woodland Trust on 0845 293 5689; email woodlandcreation@woodlandtrust.org.uk or visit www.MoreTreesMoreGood.org.uk/planting
Notes to editors
For media enquiries contact:
Kaye Coates at the Woodland Trust’s Bangor Office on 028 9127 5787; email kayecoates@woodlandtrust.org.uk or
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.
Here in Northern Ireland the Woodland Trust cares for 51 woods. These woods contain a mix of recently planted woodland, mature woodland and ancient woodland (that’s land continuously wooded since at least 1600). We have recently produced the first-ever comprehensive record of Northern Ireland’s ancient woodland; find out more at www.backonthemap.org.uk