Castle Howard has planted over 60,000 trees this winter – marking the largest-scale planting on the estate in over 50 years.
The 60,978 trees are part of a five-year plan to plant 100 hectares of new woodland, supported by the Forestry Commission England Woodland Creation Offer, and is part of a wider strategy to sequester carbon and increase biodiversity.
All saplings have come from the Castle Howard tree nursery, and are mostly oak, beech, hornbeam, blackthorn and hazel.
They have been planted between the Stray (the six-kilometre public road that stretches through the estate) and the village of Terrington, as well as extending and connecting woodlands along Slingsby bank, and through Fryton Moor.
This work has been led by Duncan Leckie, forestry manager at Castle Howard, with planting carried out by the forestry team, partner contractors and conservation volunteers.
Castle Howard’s head of natural environment, Guy Thallon said: “We are thrilled to have planted so many trees this winter.
“Woodland creation is a key pillar of Castle Howard’s natural environment strategy, extending the existing 1,000 hectares of woodland managed by the estate, and creating the ancient woodlands of the future. In the next five years, our goal is to increase our woodlands by 10%.
“Woodland creation at scale is critically important to sequestering carbon in the global efforts to avoid the worst climate change warming scenarios.
“At present, the whole Estate is 30% trees, and we take our responsibility to care for them seriously.”
Find out more about Castle Howard at its website here.
