Council asking for volunteers to help plant trees
Monday, January 08, 2024
Wakefield Council is planting up to 50,000 trees this winter and asking for volunteers to help.
The trees will create a new 20-hectare wood in Wakefield at Bullcliffe Wood, the site of a former colliery off Denby Dale Road.
“We’ve planted 100,000 trees since 2020 and we couldn’t have done it without the help of volunteers. In the last two years more than 900 people have turned out to help – an incredible response.
“This year we have another ambitious target to plant up to 50,000 more trees to create a new wood in Wakefield.
“I am sure we can count on our residents to come and help again. It’s a great way to get outside, get your hands dirty and do something good for your community – help tackle climate change and make Wakefield greener and healthier.”
Cllr Jack Hemingway
Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change
Public planting days will be held on Wednesdays and weekends in January through to March.
Each public planting day will have a morning and an afternoon session. Limited places are available and volunteers are asked to book.
Each tree will capture a tonne of carbon when fully grown, help prevent flooding and provide food and shelter for wildlife.
Wakefield Council is a partner in the White Rose Forest initiative which aims to plant 7 million trees in West and North Yorkshire by 2025. The White Rose Forest will form part of the Northern Forest of 50 million trees.
Creating new woodlands is part of the Council’s Climate Change Action Plan, a mission to make the Council net zero by 2030 and help the district reach net zero by 2038.