5 October 2021 – Greenwood Community Forest has successfully established its first new woodland creation project for the Trees for Climate programme at Bentinck South, Kirkby-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire.
Bentinck South Tree Planting
Bentinck South is a restored colliery pit tip owned by Nottinghamshire County Council on the outskirts of Kirkby-in-Ashfield in Nottinghamshire and the first site planted in the Greenwood Community Forest under the Trees for Climate programme.
A native broadleaved woodland has been established to increase biodiversity, lock up carbon and provide new habitats for wildlife. The planting scheme will also help Nottinghamshire County Council reach the target to plant 250,00 trees as part of their corporate environment plan.
Bentinck South is a restored colliery pit tip owned by Nottinghamshire County Council on the outskirts of Kirkby-in-Ashfield in Nottinghamshire and the first site planted in the Greenwood Community Forest under the Trees for Climate programme.
Summary of the project
- Bentinck South, a former colliery pit tip was identified as an area that would benefit from woodland creation following a review of Nottinghamshire County Council land and a scheme was put together by the Greenwood team with the aim of improving biodiversity by connecting habitats and creation of new native broadleaf woodland.
- Amidst the Covid pandemic, alongside supply chain issues of scarce tree supply and limited contractor availability, there was a short window of opportunity for us to deliver our pilot planting scheme. The Greenwood team came together and, using resources effectively, ensured that the site was successfully established and met all criteria required in the planning stage.
- Close to 5000 trees and shrubs were planted across the site including oak, birch, cherry, rowan, field maple, hawthorn, blackthorn, and hazel. These will provide shelter for wildlife, nesting and foraging habitats for birds and bats and fuel and timber in future years. Grass paths and a viewpoint will benefit public access, health and well-being and area rich in flora has been protected to provide pollen and nectar for pollinators.
Project impact
Natural flood management and water quality:
Tree planting at Bentinck will help to retain water within the landscape, slowing down run-off and helping to improve water quality and natural flood management.
Public access and management:
The land is owned by Nottinghamshire County Council and will be managed by The NCC Greenspaces team, ensuring public access and enjoyment of the countryside into the future.
Enhancing wildlife:
Situated in a priority area for habitat networks, the mixture of native broadleaf trees and shrubs, open space and retention of a diverse floral seed bank will help to enhance the area for wildlife and provide connectivity with adjacent woodlands, providing more places for nature and biodiversity to thrive.
Employment and skills:
With 250 hectares of woodland creation planned for Greenwood, the Trees for Climate programme will help to create new jobs and secure existing ones within the forestry and environmental sector.
Bentinck South Planting Programme – Partners
