This press release was originally published on Yorkshire Water.
“…The work at Gorpley is part of an initiative to help slow the flow of water during flood events like the devastating floods of Boxing Day 2015, which had a massive impact on the Calder Valley. The planting of two hundred thousand trees at Gorpley was originally due to take ten years, but as part of today’s announcement Yorkshire Water has also pledged to dramatically accelerate this scheme by aiming to plant all the trees over the next two years.
Yorkshire Water is one of the biggest landowners in Yorkshire and has been working with the White Rose Forest Partnership to map Yorkshire Water’s 28,000 hectares of land to assess where planting more trees will have the most impact on flood attenuation, carbon, recreation and wildlife.
Making the one million trees pledge, Richard Flint said: “As one of Yorkshire’s biggest landowners we need to make sure that we manage our land in a way that makes the most of the benefits that a healthy natural environment can provide.”
“Planting trees in the right place can reduce flood risk, mitigate carbon emissions and boost wildlife. Crucially we also want to see these new woodlands provide opportunities for local people to get out and enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits that spending time in the natural environment can provide. Here at Gorpley we are working with Treesponsibility to involve local volunteers in the planting of the trees and I hope that the woodlands we create will provide a lasting legacy for communities across the region. We want to support the growth of the northern forest and hope our commitment today will encourage others to play their part.”…”
Read on at: Yorkshire Water.
