An award of £5,000 from the ‘Love Your Landscape’ grant scheme has been made to the Crosby Ravensworth Parish Tree Group in support of selfless work by the community to ensure that trees throughout the parish are sustained for future generations.
The ‘Love Your Landscape’ grant has been awarded by the Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership Scheme. Funded by a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, it aims to engage people in revealing, conserving, enjoying and sustaining the hidden heritage of the Westmorland Dales.
The Crosby Ravensworth Parish Tree Group was created in 2019. It followed concerns that a number of trees had been lost through clearance and others to disease — notably ash die-back – and that older trees with a limited life would need replacement.
Following a major survey of every tree within one-third of the parish area, a team of 30 local volunteers of all ages began planting trees and installing tree protection. In its first year 1768 trees were planted. Now in its second phase, the grant award will help to fund a similarly heroic effort as a further third of the Parish area is surveyed and planted.
Drew Woodward, Chair, Crosby Ravensworth Parish Tree Group said: “This is a Community approach to sustain trees throughout the Parish and represents a long term commitment on behalf of all of the volunteers involved.
“The group was formed by local people who wanted to do something to enhance the landscape and to preserve for future generations rather than for themselves.”
Since June, volunteers have been giving up their time to plot every tree in this area by species and age, identifying practical areas for replanting alongside aging trees, looking to replace lost trees or hedgerows and develop new areas for more substantial development. Planting will commence once again from November to March 2021 to cover a further third of the Parish area.
David Evans, Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership Scheme Manager said: “We’re delighted to be able to offer financial support to this project. Our ‘Love Your Landscape’ grant fund was created to support communities just like this who share our passion for the rich heritage and unique landscape of the Westmorland Dales.
“It fits perfectly with our objectives to engage people in revealing, conserving, enjoying and sustaining the rich heritage of the area. It is an exemplary project which we hope will inspire other communities.“
The Westmorland Dales Landscape Partnership Scheme, which has been funded by a grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, aims to engage people in revealing, conserving, enjoying and sustaining the hidden heritage of the Westmorland Dales. More information about its ‘Love Your Landscape’ grants programme is available on its website at: www.thewestmorlanddales.org.uk
