PLANTING trees is just one of the ways Craven District Council can help slow the rate of climate change, councillors have been told.

Three small council owned sites in Skipton have been identified for the planting of new trees and officers are to put in a bid to the Northern Forest Fund for £40,000 to cover the cost, it was agreed at last week’s meeting of the Policy Committee.

If the application to the fund is unsuccessful, then a bid to another body for alternative funding will be made, members of the committee were told.

Cllr Simon Myers said the council had declared a climate emergency, and one of the best ways of slowing climate change was to plant more trees.

He also pointed out that despite perceptions, Craven has a very low level of tree coverage at only five per cent of land area compared to the national average of 12 per cent, and is the lowest in the Leeds city region.

Three sites owned by the council have been identified as suitable in Skipton - off Gargrave Road, at Aireville Park, and off Shortbank Road.

It is hoped, if the application for funds is successful, the sites will be ready for the tree planting season, between October and March.

Cllr Myers added there was a lot of land in Craven that was not really productive, and which could be used to plant trees.

The council hopes to come up with other sites and is working with landowners to identify other land and to help them with funding applications.

The £40,000 will cover the cost of 7,270 ‘whips’ or seedlings, 112 standards and 930 metres of protective fencing, along with stakes, rabbit guards and mesh protection for standards.

Craven currently has the lowest tree cover in the Leeds City region, Out of the 11 regions, it has the lowest at 5.4 per cent cover per hectare, with Leeds the highest at 17.2 per cent and Barnsley at 16.5 per cent.