Help needed to create woodland in Colne

A total of 1,000 trees need planting – and the mission is to do it in a day!

If you would like to help, the tree planting will take place on Saturday, 2 March, 10am - 2pm.

Funding has been allocated from DEFRA’s Coronation Living Heritage Fund to create a community woodland to celebrate the coronation of King Charles III.

Councillor Asjad Mahmood, Leader of Pendle Borough Council, said: “This is a wonderful way for people to come together to create something lasting for this Colne park.

“The volunteers will be able to watch the woodland grow and know they were a part of creating it.

“The King’s Coronation Tree Funding is to enable more trees to be planted in non-woodland locations close to where people live, providing a visible and lasting tribute to the coronation for local communities.”

Chris McKee, Pendle Borough Council’s Green Spaces Assistant, said: “We will need as many volunteers as possible to help us create this woodland in a day.

“Anyone wanting to join us can just turn up – the more, the merrier!

“We do have tools; however, depending on numbers, it may be helpful for volunteers to bring their own spade if they have one.

“The ground will have been dug over and prepared beforehand, so it will just be a simple case of digging a small hole, planting a sapling and covering the base with soil.”

Councillor Zafar Ali, the Council’s Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change, added: “This is a great way to meet new people, help the community and improve your health and the planet by planting a large amount of CO2 capturing trees.

“The Miyawaki Method is one of the most effective tree planting methods for creating woodland cover quickly.

“The trees planted by this method grow much faster, jump starting the forest creation process and capturing more carbon – an ideal method for creating diverse forest ecosystems quickly.”