Kirklees Together

Our Kirklees landscape now benefits from 15 hectares of new woodland thanks to the combined efforts of Kirklees Council, community groups, and volunteers.

Our Woodland Development Team, as part of The White Forest programme, engaged the local community in planting nearly 15 hectares of new woodland, equivalent to 21 football pitches, with a mix of native broadleaf species.

During the last planting season, from November 2023 to March 2024, almost 1000 volunteers planted trees across 50 sessions in various wards, including Batley East, Birstall & Birkenshaw, Colne Valley, Holme Valley South, Kirkburton & Newsome.

Children from local schools and scout groups braved the great outdoors to learn how to plant trees, as well as Kirklees Council staff volunteers and Councillors, Huddersfield University students and staff, and residents.

The woodlands are more than just trees; they are diverse ecosystems that include open spaces, various habitat types, different layers of vegetation growth, and varied soil compositions. They provide benefits such as flood risk reduction, increased biodiversity, enhanced climate resilience, and the improved health and well-being of Kirklees communities.

We have been the lead organisation and accountable body for the delivery of the White Rose Forest programme since 2002. The White Rose Forest is the community forest for North and West Yorkshire. The programme works with communities, landowners and farmers to plant trees where they are needed the most.

Councillor Munir Ahmed, Cabinet Member for Environment and Highways said:

“We are proud to lead the White Rose Forest initiative and of our vital involvement here in Kirklees. I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to the volunteers and local community groups for their invaluable contribution to our new woodland creation. Planting trees together can foster a sense of hope and growth for the future whilst creating a legacy of improved health and well-being for future generations and a thriving habitat for wildlife. I hope that many more people will join us for our new planting season.”

Could you volunteer to plant trees?

The new tree planting season will begin in November 2024 and run through March 2025 and the Kirklees Woodland Development team is once again looking for volunteers to plant trees and help with their aim of increasing the tree canopy cover in Kirklees to 21% by 2050.

You can find out about tree planting volunteering opportunities and dates for future sessions at our parks and greenspaces Eventbrite page.

More information about the woodland creation programme visit Kirklees Woodland Creation.