Humber Forest has planted a record number of trees in the last 12 months, with 238,000 trees planted across Hull, East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire.
Since the project began three years ago, 400,000 trees have been planted across the region.
Humber Forest, supported by Defra, is the community forest for Hull, East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, one of 15 community forests across England and part of the larger Northern Forest that stretches from Liverpool to the Yorkshire Coast.
The project provides grants to cover up to 100 per cent funding for planting as well as at least five years maintenance for farmers, landowners, businesses and communities to plant hedgerows or trees on their land.
These trees can play a vital role in reducing soil erosion and flooding, improving air quality, creating habitats for wildlife, and improving community spaces.
Most trees are planted by Humber Forest delivery partners, such as Hull City Council, with the support of volunteers, including local residents, who planted 576 trees alongside Dent Road, on Hull’s border with Cottingham.
The Dent Road project was aimed at enhancing the local area, providing a community woodland for residents, while improving the area for wildlife.
The planting featured a wild family activity day hosted by Rewilding Youth, not only to engage the local community with the planting of the trees, but to also educate them on activities such as tree and plant identification, nature crafts, bushcraft skills and bug hunting.
The majority of tree saplings for Humber Forest plantings are also grown at Mires Beck Nursery in North Cave, an East Yorkshire charity that supports adults with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and Autism.
Cllr Charles Quinn, portfolio holder for environment at Hull City Council, said: “Humber Forest is a brilliant initiative which brings the whole community together whilst supporting the area’s biodiversity and environment.
“The wild family day hosted by Rewilding Youth was fantastic and saw many people from the community learn so much about the trees and plants in the area, as well as learn new skills.
“As a council, we are committed to tackling climate change and the Humber Forest programme really demonstrates that.”
The Humber Forest team can fund large and small projects and are eager to hear from any landowners who are interested in planting trees or hedgerow on their land.
They can be contacted at humber.forest@eastriding.gov.uk or visit www.humberforest.org
Tree and hedgerow planting in the Humber Forest is supported with funding from the Trees for Climate and Northern Forest Grow Back Greener funds, which are part of the Defra Nature for Climate Fund and provide landowners with grants to cover up to 100% of all woodland creation project costs.
