Humber Forest volunteers plant over a thousand trees to mark the start of planting season

Humber Forest has planted its first trees of the new tree planting season, last week, with over 1,000 saplings planted at sites across the region.

The trees were planted in a range of projects across the county, including at a primary school in Skidby, and farmland in Goole and Holderness.

The volunteers educated the children at Skibdy Primary School on the essential role trees play in preserving our local environment, and in helping to prevent soil erosion, and providing habitats for wildlife.

Last year, Humber Forest team planted an unprecedented 238,000 trees, which they are aiming to supplant in the upcoming planting season. This year’s target is to plant 250,000-300,000 trees by March 2025.

The team are currently working with over 100 landowners across Hull, East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire, who are interested in planting trees on their land.

Projects ranges from a golf course which wants to enhance the course with more trees, an orchard for schools, community woodlands, as well as hedgerows and parkland style planting on farms, to provide shade and shelter for animals.

The tree saplings for Humber Forest plantings are grown at Mires Beck Nursery in North Cave, an East Yorkshire charity that supports adults with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and Autism.

Humber Forest, supported by Defra Nature for Climate Fund, is the community forest for Hull, East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire. It is one of 15 community forests across England, and part of the larger Northern Forest that stretches from Liverpool to the Yorkshire Coast. East Riding of Yorkshire Council is the accountable body for the Humber Forest.

The team works with communities, businesses, and landowners to increase tree cover and maintain existing woodland. Humber Forest provides grants to cover up to 100 per cent funding for planting as well as at least five years maintenance for farmers, landowners, businesses, and communities to plant hedgerows or trees on their land.

Councillor Paul West, East Riding of Yorkshire cabinet member for environment and transport at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said:” This is a wonderful project and its great to see so many trees planted across the region. Trees provide innumerable benefits for communities and wildlife, and I look forward to the Humber Forest expanding further over the coming year.”

Humber Forest can fund large and small projects, providing up to 100 per cent of agreed costs of tree planting, hedgerow creation and maintenance. It can also support tree protection, fences, gates and more. For more information, or to get involved, visit www.humberforest.org or email humber.forest@eastriding.gov.uk

Stuart Richardson, Skidby Primary School Headteacher said "At Skidby CE Primary, our vision is that we can make a big difference within our community. One way we can do this is by improving our natural environment.

We believe that nature plays a key role in the development of young minds and by integrating green spaces into our school site, we are providing our students with an opportunity to engage with the environment, learn about biodiversity, and understand the importance of taking care of our planet.

The trees we’ve planted today will provide shade, improve air quality, and offer a peaceful space for our students to learn and reflect well into the future."

Tree and hedgerow planting in the Humber Forest is supported with funding from the Trees for Climate and Northern Forest Grow Back Greener funds, which are part of the Defra Nature for Climate Fund and provide landowners with grants to cover up to 100 per cent of all woodland creation project costs.