A NEW woodland the size of around 30 football pitches has been created at Silsden.
That is 38,585 trees creating compartments of High Canopy and Low Canapy Woodland called 'Hayhills Farm Wood'.
The woodland contributes to the emerging 'Northern Forest'– a venture which aims to provide 50 million trees across the M62 corridor, between Liverpool and Hull
Species include sessile and English Oak, Sesille Oak, Downey Birch and Silver Birch.
The Woodland Trust headed up the project, with support from Lloyds banking group. with spades "in the ground" coordinated by Yorgreen CIC.
Over 1,600 volunteers took part in the planting organised by the Keighley based Community Interest Company
Hayhills Farm Wood will attract the mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians associated with other woodlands in the locality.
The planting is directly connected to Beck Wood, a semi-natural ancient woodland also managed by the Woodland Trust, and that will help Hayhills establish as a species-rich habitat enhancing biodiversity.
A network of open space within the design allows for the natural regeneration of trees from seed dispersal that should prove to be more resilient to pests, disease and climate change.
The trees are starting to establish, which is great news considering the prolonged hot dry spells we experienced in the spring.
We will see a real change to the landscape character in 10 to 15 years when the tree canopy will begin to close and we will smell, hear and see what we think a woodland should be.
Join Yorgreen CIC, Climate Action Silsden and the Woodland Trust on a ramble from Silsden Park to Hayhills and discover the new planting and management plans for the site.
MEET: Silsden Park; junction of Banklands and Fletcher Avenue ///sands.merit.extra
2:00PM SATURDAY 27th SEPTEMBER
This is a circular walk returning to our meeting point estimated time 4:00PM
