England’s largest continuous new native forest is to be planted in Hertfordshire by the Woodland Trust, creating a history-making broadleaf woodland covering 850 acres.
The proposed new forest will offer massive benefits for people and wildlife alike, will be open to the public and will create a massive woodland asset within 20 miles of the centre of London.
The Trust is intent on planting more than 600,000 native trees on land it is planning to buy near Sandridge, between St Albans and Harpenden, which will make it the single largest native woodland site owned in England by the Trust.
Site purchase, planting of trees and management costs for its first five years total £8.5 million, prompting the Woodland Trust’s largest ever fund-raising campaign.
Sue Holden, Trust chief executive, said: "A continuous new native forest of this size has never been created in England before.”
“We estimate that two million people live within 15 miles of Sandridge alone. Our new wood will provide a large and accessible space for people at a time when there is huge pressure to develop and build on land in the south east.”
England has lost half its ancient woodland since the 1930s, either to development, agriculture or planting with non-native conifers – leaving just five per cent of native woodland cover and making England one of the least wooded countries in Europe.
The Trust’s vision involves communities and children in planting trees to create new woodland wildlife habitat. The first trees may be planted as early as this winter.
Sue continued: “This is a major challenge for us, but its success depends on huge financial support from the public, our members and supporters, businesses and other organisations. We never cease to be amazed at the generosity prompted by our fund-raising appeals, however, and I hope that everyone will share our excitement over this, our biggest ever challenge.”
Donations restricted to this project can be made via the website.
