Woodland creation in Ousby

28 November 2024

It’s National Tree Week and we’re sharing news of 4,000 trees being planted on a 9 hectare site along Dale Beck near Ousby in Cumbria, just on the fringe of the North Pennines National Landscape.

Working with the landowner, the North Pennines team, through the Heart of the Pennines Forest project, designed the planting scheme for this upland site to make sure it would benefit the landscape and wildlife. Following the rule of ‘right tree, right place’, native species, including willows, alder, rowan and hawthorn, are being planted in this upland gill. The trees will provide food and shelter for the endangered black grouse, a rare species which has declined drastically due to loss of habitat. The planting scheme will also provide shading along the beck, slowing the flow of water from the fellside, benefitting communities downstream.

Trees are planted using 1.2m plastic tubes, which are much needed to protect and encourage growth of the young trees in our harsh upland weather conditions, and also to protect them from roe deer browsing. All tubes will be reused or recycled through the Tubex tree shelter recycling scheme.

This project was funded by Forestry Commission through the England Woodland Creation offer. Importantly, as well as the capital outlay for the scheme, this funding covers maintenance and long-term support costs, to make sure that these new trees have the best chance of survival.

Heart of the Pennines Forest has been supported by National Lottery players through The National Lottery Heritage Fund.