Tree planting takes root with additional funding secured
As the accountable body for the White Rose Forest, the community forest partnership for North and West Yorkshire, Kirklees councillors agreed funding proposals which will see the tree planting programme, Trees for Climate, continue up to 2030.
How the funding will be used
Thousands of hectares of new woodlands will be created across the region over the next four years, supported by the Trees for Climate programme, part of the Government’s ‘Nature for Climate’ fund.
This funding will help to kickstart delivery of the White Rose Forest Strategic Plan 2025-2050 which sets out the partnership’s long-term vision, aspirations and targets for woodland creation and management and wider impact for nature and communities across the region.
Woodland creation programmes
The White Rose Forest Strategic Plan includes two key woodland creation programmes: Green Streets planting trees and woodlands in our towns and cities, and Landscapes for Water creating new woodlands in priority river catchments across Yorkshire to reduce the risk of flooding for many communities. Trees for Climate will help the delivery of these programmes by providing funding and support to private and public landowners who want to create new woodland on their land.
David Shepherd, Director for Place said:
“We are committed to making our district carbon neutral by 2038. It has been proven that trees actively remove carbon from the air, and tree planting on this scale will help us make our vision a reality.
“Staff and volunteers have already planted three million trees across North and West Yorkshire since the Trees for Climate programme began. They have helped create natural flood management, improve air quality, and make our towns more appealing for businesses, whilst creating spaces where people will want to walk, wheel, and cycle more often.”
“Alongside our White Rose Forest partners across the region, we will continue addressing the climate crisis and building a cleaner, greener future for everyone.”
The White Rose Forest
The White Rose Forest is one of England’s 15 Community Forests and is supported by a broad partnership of local and combined authorities, national parks, national and local charities, Defra organisations, and community enterprises. The White Rose Forest will be collaborating with national partners to deliver the Trees for Climate programme.
Kirklees Council have been the accountable body for the White Rose Forest partnership since 2002.
The White Rose Forest Strategic Plan 2025 – 50 is available online Strategic Plan – White Rose Forest.