Creating high quality woodland habitats

29 November 2024

Did you know it’s National Tree Week? This is the UK’s largest celebration of trees and marks the start of the winter tree planting season. The North Pennines National Landscape is joining in the celebration and we would like to share with you some of our work to increase tree coverage in the National Landscape.

A tree planting and woodland management project at Harehope Quarry, a Local Wildlife Site near Frosterley in Weardale, is being carried out with support from the North Pennines National Landscape team. Funding has been provided via Defra’s Farming in Protected Landscapes programme. It began in August 2024 and will continue until February 2025, and aims to create a corridor of high-quality wooded habitats that connect the ancient woodland of Harehope Gill with the wider River Wear woodland.

Through the project trees are being planted and existing trees are being re-guarded to protect against deer browsing. The wood pasture that is created will provide shade for livestock and increase flood resilience. The team is also thinning the abundance of goat willow. Over 470 new trees of a variety of species are being planted, including aspen, blackthorn, crab apple, dogwood, guelder rose, hawthorn, holly, pedunculate oak, rowan, Scots pine, small-leaved lime, wild cherry, wych elm. Woodland officers from the North Pennines National Landscape team helped to design the project, ensuring tree species were appropriate for the area and suitable under future climate scenarios.

This work will lead to increased species diversity and improved habitat structure. It is a positive change that will be enjoyed by visitors and locals to the North Pennines as several permissive and public footpaths, such as the Weardale Way, go either directly through or adjacent to the project site. Planting more trees also plays a vital role in helping mitigate the effects of climate change because more carbon dioxide can be removed from the atmosphere. The species-rich mix of planting also contributes to climate resilience.

Less is sometimes more when it comes to tree planting. With input from Paul Muto from the North Pennines National Landscape team, the final project plans included fewer trees in an area near the river. This meant a wood pasture style habitat could be created, keeping grassland for animals to graze whilst still achieving increased species diversity.

Paul said: “It was very rewarding to work with Jill at Harehope Quarry on this project, particularly as we were able to focus on achieving the right balance of thinning and planting that works for this site, connecting this work to the wider woodland habitats on the banks of the Wear. The scheme has introduced such a wide range of tree species to the site, and this can only benefit biodiversity.”

Jill Essam from Harehope Quarry said, “It is very exciting that this project is coming to fruition, which wouldn’t have happened without the support of the North Pennines National Landscape Team. We are delighted to have the opportunity to increase the woodland habitats around Harehope Quarry, including a diverse range of tree species being planted next to Harehope Gill to expand this woodland area. Visitors to the area and people attending events in the quarry will enjoy the benefits, including people taking part in tree planting during National Tree Week. The project provides a win-win for the environment, climate change and for people.”

Once the project is complete, the team at Harehope Quarry will continue to maintain the trees to encourage wildlife.