MORE than 100,000 trees have been planted near Settle in a project which will produce sustainable timber, help with flood prevention, and provide a habitat for raptors, otters and red squirrels.

Forestry firm Tilhill, working with the landowner, has created the new woodland on a 47-hectare site at Mearbeck, in the project that has been welcomed by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.

The firm, which offers sustainable forest and woodland management services to owners, has also been working with Clapham-based charity Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust to provide public access and wildlife habitat.

A spokesperson for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority said: "The national park and partners have a shared ambition to increase woodland cover from four percent to seven percent of the national park area by 2030.

"This will be achieved mainly through the creation of native broadleaved woodlands. Productive forestry such as that at Mearbeck is also welcomed as part of a ‘working landscape’, as it has been sensitively designed to provide tangible benefits to the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the national park."

Tilhill says in its case study for the Mearbeck project that the objectives were to develop commercial productive woodland for timber, provide community woodlands, and achieve flood reduction, as well as improve the water quality, unify woodland cover, and create habitat for red squirrels.

The project received funding from England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO).

In its case study, Tilhill says: "Mearbeck is an area of marginal hill ground that was traditionally used for stock grazing. The landscape comprises of rolling upland blocks of land interspersed with stone walls, streams, rough grazing land and coniferous and mixed plantations on the flatter ground, particularly along stream sides. A key block of conifer is Wildshare, another parcel of woodland managed by Tilhill.

"The project saw the creation of a new access track into the forest alongside ground preparation, fencing works and the planting of over 100,000 mixed tree species to deliver a new woodland across 47 hectares of upland semi-improved acid grassland. The aim was to diversify the land for economic, environmental and social benefits.

Tilhill will work with the YDMT in a three-year agreement to deliver parts of the recreational access requirement of the English Woodland Creation Offer grant, which includes maintenance work and infrastructure such as signage and way markers. YDMT also planted 1,220 broadleaf trees in April 2023.

The case study continues: "The conversion of open ground to woodland had the potential to adversely impact waders, especially curlew. This risk had to be fully assessed which included a full breeding bird survey and detailed discussions with Natural England and Forestry Commission.

"Through consideration of existing woodlands, Tilhill in discussion with stakeholders were able to inform the design to avoid encroachment of the new woodland and its associated predator shadow into fully open land, thus minimising any potential adverse impacts on breeding waders.

"The design also included riparian woodland development, native woodland areas for greater diversity and structure, creation of woodland habitat corridors, improved water catchment resilience and public amenity benefits."

Once the trees are established, they should help reduce flood risk in the area and filter rainfall, improving water quality. In addition, native trees have been planted and over time the roots will stabilise the riverbanks, reducing bank erosion.

Tilhill continues: "Site objectives included the increase and unification of woodland cover in this transitional landscape. The local area of Wildshare already includes significant woodland cover with mixed/conifer woodland to the north and native broadleaves to the south."

The project supports the Government’s ‘A Green Future – 25 Year Environment Plan’ through increasing the long term supply of English-grown sustainable timber, such as improved Sitka spruce.

"The forest will, in the future, continuously supply sustainable timber to local sawmills to create a range of forest products such as construction timber for house building, garden and landscaping products such as fencing, sleepers and decking and co-products such as sawdust, pellets and wood chip for energy, horticulture and farming industries."

Raptor perches will be installed to help increase the presence of birds of prey which in turn help control voles and rabbits which can often gnaw on young saplings, weakening or even killing the trees.

"Before planting, high seats were installed to help with deer and rabbit management. Riparian planting alongside watercourses will create shade for the existing populations of otter known to be on the site. As the trees grow, they provide shade which reduces water temperature.

"This woodland creation project aims to create habitat for red squirrels through woodland connectivity increasing their habitat area. Scots Pine and Norway spruce were specifically planted to encourage red squirrel into the area."

More than 3,000 metres of deer fencing, rabbit netting and water gates were installed to prevent damage from deer, rabbits, and hare and a small amount of broadleaved trees have been planted with individual tree guards to protect them from harsh weather, rabbit, and deer damage.

"Tilhill will remove the tree guards after establishment and YDMT will ensure the removal of any planting guards within the broadleaf area once the trees are fully established. The guards will be recycled as part of a partnership-led recycling hub scheme with Tubex."

YDMT carried out the planting of 1,220 broadleaved trees through its outreach projects, local community and supporter groups.

The groups were involved in every stage of the development, from installing signage and markers to creating their own 0.76- hectare woodland. Tilhill took part in the community supporter’s days which also included businesses such as Tarmac, Leeds Building Society and Settle College.

The case study concludes: "Woodlands provide access opportunities which are proven to be good for mental health and stress alleviation, improving people’s quality of life.

"The main woodland compartment was designed with both vehicle and pedestrian access gates.

"Footpath access was created with long vistas towards Pendle Hill and the surrounding Yorkshire Dales to encourage recreational access for the public to enjoy for future generations."