Derbyshire district to benefit from £270,000 cash boost to aid council's tree growing ambitions

The cash, given to Bolsolver District Council by the Woodland Trust is one of only 12 grants across the country and will be used to create a community woodland on the former Creswell colliery site, a tree lined avenue in Bolsover and several other tree planting projects in the district.

It was awarded after the council made a plea for ideas for community woodlands last year.

Bolsover District Council says it will now be able to follow up the many suggestions made by members of the community and look to bring projects from across the district to fruition.

Coun Nick Clarke, Cabinet Member for Carbon Reduction Efficiencies, said: “We are delighted with the grant funding we have received and together with our communities we can make wonderful things happen.

“Trees are one of the most powerful weapons we have in our fight against climate change but growing trees - the right trees - must be done in a sustainable way and be seen as a long term investment, that’s why we are working with the Woodland Trust to get the full benefits from the scheme.”

Plans include planting 27,500 trees on former colliery land south of Creswell to provide an environmental resource for the village with a community woodland at its heart.

Design and planting work on the 25-hectare site is planned to start this autumn, with residents invited to take part and contribute to the project.

This is the first phase in the council’s ambition to grow one million trees in an effort to address climate change, an ambition which also extends to increasing the resilience of existing woodlands and creating, repairing and connecting woodland and other habitats in the district.

Coun Clarke added: “We see this as just the start in Bolsover District as we have other ideas we want to bring to fruition so we can create legacies and places of tranquillity that future generations can enjoy, all whilst protecting the planet.

“We want the whole District to benefit from our tree growing scheme and over the forthcoming months and years we hope to have at least one project in every parish across Bolsover District.”

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