Find out more about tree planting initiative

Lancaster City council has joined forces with the Lune Valley Flood Forum for a new event aimed at encouraging landowners and anyone with an interest to find out more about the benefits of tree planting.

Held at the Storey in Lancaster from 3pm to 6.30pm on Thursday September 26, the event will include talks by Rod Everett, Natural Flood Management expert and Hannah Marshall from the Woodland Trust Northern Forest.

There will be also informal stalls where you can gain expert knowledge on various aspects of tree planting, natural flood management, land management and stewardship.

Agencies represented at the event will include Lune Rivers Trust, Natural England,  the Woodland Trust and United Utilities.

This is a drop-in style event and there’s no need to pre-book; simply turn up and join in.

The event follows the city council’s pledge in July to plant a million trees and hedgerows as part of the new Northern Forest.

The project is also an important strand of the council’s efforts to making its own services carbon neutral by 2030 and influencing others to do the same.

Coun Kevin Frea, deputy leader of Lancaster City Council, said: “I’m delighted the council is working with the Lune Valley Flood Forum on this very important project. The planting of new trees and hedgerows are a vital component of natural flood management, which will become ever more important as the effects of climate change hit home.

“We will only be able to meet the ambitious target of planting a million trees and hedgerows with the help of local landowners and I hope to see as many as possible at this event to find out more about how they can become involved.”

Janet Taylor from the Lune Valley Flood Forum added:  Lune Valley Flood Forum recognises the importance of Natural Flood Mangement, tree planting and hedge laying for flooding, the environment and climate change. We are so glad that our council is working on these issues and hope to work with them in the future to help our district and the people who live here."

The Million Trees project is being run in conjunction with the Woodland Trust who, thanks to funding from Defra, will contribute up to 85 per cent of the costs to anyone wanting to incorporate trees on their land through its MOREwoods scheme.

For more information on how to get involved email milliontrees@lancaster.gov.uk.

Last updated: 16 September 2019