A SCHEME to create new native broadleaf woodland in and around the Yorkshire Dales National Park saw 82,000 trees planted between October and March.

The 21 new woodlands were created under the Dales Woodland Restoration Programme, which is delivered and funded by a partnership including Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT), the National Park Authority (YDNPA) and the Forestry Commission.

The Yorkshire Dales has less woodland than any other national park in the UK and the scheme aims to double its broadleaf woodland cover by 2020.

In Bishopdale, great strides have been made due to the enthusiasm and commitment of landowner Robert Brown who, since 2010, has planted 65 hectares of native broadleaf woodland, including two new areas this winter.

He said: “In the last century, we lost a large proportion of the woodland in this dale and, with the help of this scheme, I’m delighted that we’ve been able to restore some of the land back to native tree cover to support biodiversity and enhance the landscape for future generations.”

Geoff Garrett, YDNPA’s senior trees and woodland officer, said: “In the seven years of the partnership, we’ve spent £6m supporting new woodlands in the National Park.

“We are looking forward to working with landowners in the future, and spreading the news of the benefits that this fantastic programme has for them.”

Hedgerow planting projects have also been funded. The Maunder family in West Scrafton, near Leyburn, received a grant to buy native trees and shrubs including hawthorn, holly, blackthorn, crab apple, elder and hazel and created 200 metres of hedgerow to act as an important corridor for wildlife.

Carol Douglas, woodland officer at YDMT, said: “It has been fantastic to approve grants for 21 new woodlands this winter, which together will cover 58 hectares.

“We’re very keen to support more landowners wishing to plant trees, and are already accepting applications for the next planting season – please get in touch if you’d like to find out more.”

Much of the planting has been possible thanks to The Fuelcard Company and its Ecopoint customers, who raised £338,565 for YDMT last year which allowed the scheme to expand outside the Park.

A small woodland in Mickley, near Ripon, benefited. Covering just under one hectare, landowners Dr Judith Hooper and Dr Frances Cole hope it will reduce the risk of flooding and benefit wildlife.

Linking nearby Hackfall woods and existing hedgerows, it is hoped the new woodland will help to support a thriving population of birds, butterflies and insects.

Interested landowners in and around the Yorkshire Dales should contact Carol Douglas at YDMT on 015242 51002 or email carol.douglas@ydmt.org.

The charity hopes to cover all costs involved in establishing a new woodland, including the supply and planting of trees and guards, fencing to exclude stock, gates to allow access and initial weeding costs but in some circumstances applicants may be asked to contribute cash, materials or labour.