1170 native trees were planted and a wildflower meadow and wetland area created by local volunteers on this 1.2 hectare site near York in early 2022.
White Rose Forest
Trees for Climate, Year 2
The Pavers Foundation, the charitable arm of family-owned and run, and carbon-neutral footwear retailer Pavers, created their first Pavers Foundation forest this year, outside York with support from the White Rose Forest and The Conservation Volunteers.
The White Rose Forest team provided advice and support for the planning and funding of this project. The project was funded via the White Rose Forest’s Trees for Climate funding programme that is available to landowners and land managers within any of England’s community forest areas.
The planting was then managed by White Rose Forest partner, the Conservation Volunteers (TCV), who prepared the land and managed the planting alongside volunteers from Pavers Head Office and local Wheldrake with Thorganby CE Primary School. The children also helped to design the wildflower meadow and returned to the site to help with planting this part of the project.
The land has been planted with a mixture of 1170 native trees which will establish over the next few years, and 3700 wildflowers which will develop into a wildflower meadow and wetland area. Maintenance of the site over a 5-year period will be conducted by The Conservation Volunteers to ensure trees and wildflowers become well established.
The children from Class 2 had such fun planting the trees with The Conservation Volunteers
Sophie Tams, Wheldrake with Thorganby CE Primary School
Impacts
Improve biodiversity:
Previously a rough grazing site, the trees planted, and a new wildflower meadow, and wetland area will create important new habitats for a wider variety of wildlife and plants.
Help mitigate the impact of climate change:
The new native woodland will have a positive impact on the environment by absorbing carbon.
Inspiring the local community:
The Pavers Foundation were keen to work with the local Wheldrake and Thorganby CE Primary School. As well as helping to plant the new woodland, the children also helped to design and plant the meadow and will revisit the site to see progress and help with more planting.
