[M]ore than 213,000 trees will be planted this winter at the Lowther Estate in Cumbria. The scheme is one of the largest in the country and is being undertaken with the help of funding from the Woodland Creation Planning Grant (WCPG).
Driven by the recently retired Lowther Estate forester, Ian Jack, this successful application mean that trees will be planted across 170 hectares just south of Penrith. Over 120 hectares will be planted with productive softwood trees and the remainder will be predominantly productive broadleaves. (Editors please note: in 2016, across the whole of the UK, just 582 hectares were planted with trees. The Lowther scheme equates to approximately 1/3 of last year’s total UK planting.)
‘Jack’s Wood’ is intended to integrate with the rest of the estate; connecting existing woodland and forming a natural corridor with pasture woodlands in the historic listed park and community woodland.
Lowther Estate Manager David Bliss said: “WCPG funding helped Ian Jack plan and gain approval for this magnificent commercial woodland. This is an extremely significant tree plantation not just for Lowther or the North West – but nationally. In the fullness of time, it will support many local jobs and associated forestry businesses.”
Funding for ‘Jack’s Wood’ came from a £1 million fund announced at a Confor event by former Forestry Minister Rory Stewart in November 2015. Planting begins in the New Year.
For more information please visit: https://www.lowthercastle.org
