Looks like an area of the Yorkshire Dales that was once covered in woodland is going to be restored as thousands of trees are set to be planted.
Sniazieholme, near Hawes, was once covered in woodland centuries ago but the 1386-acre valley stands barren these days – and conservationists are set to plant hundreds of thousands of trees.
Currently, 5% of the Yorkshire Dales National Parl is covered by trees, according to the Woodland Trust, with 1% of that being ancient woodland that’s beneficial to wildlife.
The trust is aiming to raise £8 million for a programme that is set to span a decade with the aim of restoring forests that will provide habitats for threatened woodland birds and black grouse.
The Woodland Trust charity says the new trees will “restore an entire ecosystem” for threatened bird species. Planting of the first 100,000 trees is due to begin this week.
Woodland Trust said it was a “rare opportunity to create a sizeable wildlife haven for the north of England”. Also, the trees will “lock away carbon for years to come,” which in turn will improve water quality and reduce the risk of flooding.
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Al Nash, who is heading the project for the Woodland Trust, said: “I love the Dales but the one thing it lacks in many areas is an abundance of trees.
“Here we will be giving nature and biodiversity a big boost and creating a vibrant mosaic of habitats and a rare opportunity to create a sizeable wildlife haven for the north of England.
“Woodland birds will have a home here for the first time in centuries, and open scrub woodland should benefit endangered species like the black grouse.
“It’s clearly a wonderful opportunity to create something tangible in the Yorkshire Dales for the fight against climate change.
The Snaizeholme Forest will have mostly native broadleaved species planted such as alder, silver birch, downy birch, willow, aspen, rowan, hawthorn, and blackthorn, as well as montane species on the higher slopes.
The trees will not only help wildlife but also improve wetlands by slowing the flow of water on hillsides giving space for otters and kingfishers to thrive and reducing the threat of flooding for residents nearby.
It will also plant trees next to existing ancient woodland where red squirrels live to expand their home along with maintaining dry stone walls offering shelters for small animals, mammals, and lizards.
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