Landowners offered woodlands funding

The post-war period has seen a significant decline in the number of broadleaf trees in the Dales due to the effects of intensive farming, development and the decision to grow conifers for timber.

The environmental charity, the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust, has joined forces with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority and the Forestry Commission for the project which is offering grants to plant broadleaf trees.

The trust's officials have stressed that they will provide support to landowners throughout the process of woodland creation – from the grant application stage to the actual planting.

The Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust's woodland project officer, Chris Lodge, said: "The trust is proud to have been involved in over 100 tree planting projects so far.

"We intend to continue this work and increase the native broadleaved tree cover across the Yorkshire Dales."

During the last 12 years, more than 800,000 trees have been planted in the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the nearby Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The Yorkshire Post revealed in October last year that nearly 100,000 trees were due to be planted across the Yorkshire Dales throughout the winter.

A total of 25 new schemes costing nearly 400,000 were carried out during the winter planting season to boost the numbers of native species.

More information on grant funding and the woodland project is available from Mr Lodge via email at [email protected] or by calling 01524 251002.