A Forest Is Born

Sitka Spruce is planted at the North Doddington site on March 22, 2018 in Doddington, England. The Doddington North Afforestation project has begun with the planting of around 660,000 trees across the 354-hectare site, in what will be England's largest forestry scheme for more than 30 years. The project will represent more than a quarter of the 2.2 million trees England needs to plant every year until 2020 if it is to hit its 11 million target in the lifetime of this parliament. With major support from local people and Confor, (The Confederation of Forest Industries), the scheme was granted approval and in part funded by the government in Nov 2017. The benefits of the project are wide ranging, and diverse both in terms of the broader environmental impact, as well as the economic benefits it will bring to the area. As the forest matures over the next 20 years, the invasive rhododendron will be cleared and replaced by a mixture of native trees including Sitka spruce, Oak, birch and alder, helping restore some the rare peat mire, all of which will help store around 120,000 tonnes of carbon. In tern it will help manage flooding as rainfall flows off the hillsides onto farmland below. The area will provide important habitat for wildlife including extending one of the regions endangered Red squirrel 'buffer zones', as well as creating new mountain bike and walking trails. The benefits to the North-East economy include boosting the timber industry businesses and with it jobs. Employment opportunities will be created not only on site, but with companies in the region such as A.J. Scott sawmills, the second largest private employer in Northumberland, with up to 150 staff. The trees for the site will be provided provided two nurseries, including Cheviot Trees, an important local employer. (Footage by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)