4 August 2022 – More than 8,000 native trees and shrubs planted in partnership between the North East Community Forest and Newcastle International Airport.
Newcastle International Airport is unique amongst UK airports in that they have an extensive landholding well beyond the terminal, airstrip and associated infrastructure.
As part of this Trees for Climate funded project, more than 8,000 native trees and shrubs were planted, covering just under 6 hectares, in March 2022, in partnership between the North East Community Forest and Newcastle International Airport.
Considerable public benefit will be derived from biodiversity value, landscape and water quality enhancement, flood risk reduction and carbon sequestration as the new woodlands become successfully established.
“These new native woodlands will increase biodiversity, create connectivity and enhance the landscape around the Airport”
Graheme Mason, Chief Sustainability and Communications officer, Newcastle International Airport
The locations of the new woodlands, on agricultural land owned by Newcastle International Airport and managed by a farming tenant, were selected to complement, link and expand existing native woodland habitat. Over time they will increase biodiversity value, enhancing both species and structural diversity and improving the resilience of woodland across the property.
The airport team engaged Tilhill, a leading woodland management company, to apply for Trees for Climate funding, undertake stakeholder consultation and to design, plant and maintain the scheme in-line with their objectives which were to maximise environmental benefits. The planting has been registered under the Woodland Carbon Code and will sequester hundreds of tonnes of carbon as the trees become established. It will also contribute significantly to the creation of the North East Community Forest and help to deliver government policies under the England Trees Action Plan.
Species planted amongst over 8,000 trees and shrubs include aspen, downy and silver birch, Wych elm, hornbeam, small leaved lime and field maple.
