North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire plans to plant up to 134 million trees over the next 25 years now revealed. The White Rose Forest Partnership has launched its Strategic Plan 2025–2050, making a commitment to create a greener, healthier and more climate-resilient Yorkshire as part of the wider Northern Forest scheme that aims to stretch from Liverpool to the Yorkshire coast.
The plan’s key aims include increasing tree and woodland cover from 12% to 16.5% by 2050, with a stretch target of 18.5%. This equates to up to 134 million trees planted across North and West Yorkshire. The strategy also aims for 70% of woodland to be sustainably managed and to increase the number of households close to accessible woodland from 25% to 50%.
Further ambitions include increasing funding for trees and woodland to up to 50% from non-public sector sources, and engaging up to 16,000 people each year in tree planting and management.To mark the launch, the Mayors of West Yorkshire and York and North Yorkshire planted an oak tree on Woodhouse Moor, also known as Hyde Park, in Leeds.
The Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith, said: “We’re incredibly lucky to have the coast and countryside on our doorstep, but for many people in our towns and cities, those spaces can still feel like a long way away.
“When we know how important spending time in nature is for our mental and physical wellbeing, we need to do more to make it accessible. By working with West Yorkshire to plant millions of trees, we are connecting our communities with nature, tackling climate change and growing our White Rose Forest.”
Iwan Downey, Programme Director for the White Rose Forest, added: “The White Rose Forest partnership is driving forward tree planting and management where it is needed most across North and West Yorkshire. This Strategic Plan builds on our success over the last 25 years and sets out a clear roadmap for the next 25.
“It’s about collective action – from the White Rose Forest team, local authorities and businesses to communities and landowners – to create a resilient, healthy and prosperous landscape for people, nature and growth.”
Trees provide a wide range of direct and indirect benefits for nature and the environment, community health and wellbeing, and the economy.
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Feature Image Credit: White Rose Forest
