New trees planted as Gateshead shows commitment to North East Community Forest
Gateshead Council is celebrating its commitment to increasing tree and woodland cover in the borough, and its role in supporting the Queen's Green Canopy and North East Community Forest initiatives.
The young trees were officially put in place by the Lord-Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear, Susan Winfield, who was joined by the Mayor of Gateshead, Councillor Dorothy Burnett.
The Queens' Green Canopy is a UK-wide tree planting initiative which encourages people to plant a tree to commemorate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee this year.
Meanwhile the North East Community Forest will see up to 500 hectares of trees planted by 2025.
The multi-million pound, 30-year project, across Newcastle, Gateshead, North and South Tyneside, Sunderland and County Durham, will see the equivalent of almost 6,000 rugby pitches of new woodlands, hedgerows, orchards and trees planted by 2050.
In Gateshead, we also have a borough-wide target. As part of the council's response to the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis, the Council has committed to planting 100,000 trees by 2030 and increasing woodland cover in the borough from the current figure of 15% to 17% by 2050.
The Lord-Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear, Susan Winfield, said: "I am delighted that Gateshead and our other local authorities in the North East are all working to promote the North East Community Forest.
"Together we can create more tree filled areas as habitat for wild life, improve air quality and help the region tackle climate change. Planting trees will give us more woodland spaces to enjoy, and in giving us more access to nature will improve our community wellbeing in so many ways".
Councillor Dorothy Burnett, Mayor of Gateshead, said: "We are proud to be part of the North East Community Forest which will play a vital role in creating more sustainable communities for generations to come.
"The past two years of the Covid 19 pandemic have shown how incredibly important our parks, gardens and green spaces are to us and can bring huge benefits.
"They boost biodiversity, improve air quality, and make a really positive impact on local people's health and wellbeing."
Roddy Shaw, Senior Partnerships and Development Coordinator at Trees for Cities, said: "Trees for Cities is delighted to be supporting Gateshead Council with both this tree and the council's Whitehills scheme as they embark on a major tree planting drive as part of the North East Community Forest.
"With over 80% of the population now living in towns and cities in the UK, it is vital we all act now to ensure our urban areas provide healthy greenspaces for both current and future generations."
The North East Community Forest aims to capture 155,100 more tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year, equivalent to the emissions from 30,000 homes.
The initiative is supported by £480,000 from Defra's Nature for Climate Fund (England Community Forests Trees for Climate Fund), and has secured additional funding with £300,734 from the Forestry Commission (Local Authority Treescape Fund) and LA6 match funding, £70,633 from Trees for Cities, and from the Queen's Green Canopy.
One major scheme the council has committed to is the planting of 15,000 trees on land at Whitehills as part of the creation of a new community woodland; and the enhancement of areas of public open space and parks through the planting of a wide variety of specimen, ornamental and fruit trees.
As well as the venue for the event being one of Britain's finest examples of a Victorian Park, Saltwell Park is also home to one of the most extensive and important collections of trees in the whole of Gateshead.
Gateshead Council is celebrating its commitment to increasing tree and woodland cover in the borough, and its role in supporting the Queen's Green Canopy and North East Community Forest initiatives.
The young trees were officially put in place by the Lord-Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear, Susan Winfield, who was joined by the Mayor of Gateshead, Councillor Dorothy Burnett.
The Queens' Green Canopy is a UK-wide tree planting initiative which encourages people to plant a tree to commemorate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee this year.
Meanwhile the North East Community Forest will see up to 500 hectares of trees planted by 2025.
The multi-million pound, 30-year project, across Newcastle, Gateshead, North and South Tyneside, Sunderland and County Durham, will see the equivalent of almost 6,000 rugby pitches of new woodlands, hedgerows, orchards and trees planted by 2050.
In Gateshead, we also have a borough-wide target. As part of the council's response to the climate emergency and biodiversity crisis, the Council has committed to planting 100,000 trees by 2030 and increasing woodland cover in the borough from the current figure of 15% to 17% by 2050.
The Lord-Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear, Susan Winfield, said: "I am delighted that Gateshead and our other local authorities in the North East are all working to promote the North East Community Forest.
"Together we can create more tree filled areas as habitat for wild life, improve air quality and help the region tackle climate change. Planting trees will give us more woodland spaces to enjoy, and in giving us more access to nature will improve our community wellbeing in so many ways".
Councillor Dorothy Burnett, Mayor of Gateshead, said: "We are proud to be part of the North East Community Forest which will play a vital role in creating more sustainable communities for generations to come.
"The past two years of the Covid 19 pandemic have shown how incredibly important our parks, gardens and green spaces are to us and can bring huge benefits.
"They boost biodiversity, improve air quality, and make a really positive impact on local people's health and wellbeing."
Roddy Shaw, Senior Partnerships and Development Coordinator at Trees for Cities, said: "Trees for Cities is delighted to be supporting Gateshead Council with both this tree and the council's Whitehills scheme as they embark on a major tree planting drive as part of the North East Community Forest.
"With over 80% of the population now living in towns and cities in the UK, it is vital we all act now to ensure our urban areas provide healthy greenspaces for both current and future generations."
The North East Community Forest aims to capture 155,100 more tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year, equivalent to the emissions from 30,000 homes.
The initiative is supported by £480,000 from Defra's Nature for Climate Fund (England Community Forests Trees for Climate Fund), and has secured additional funding with £300,734 from the Forestry Commission (Local Authority Treescape Fund) and LA6 match funding, £70,633 from Trees for Cities, and from the Queen's Green Canopy.
One major scheme the council has committed to is the planting of 15,000 trees on land at Whitehills as part of the creation of a new community woodland; and the enhancement of areas of public open space and parks through the planting of a wide variety of specimen, ornamental and fruit trees.
As well as the venue for the event being one of Britain's finest examples of a Victorian Park, Saltwell Park is also home to one of the most extensive and important collections of trees in the whole of Gateshead.
