Regenerating our native woodlands

Planting trees

Planting trees is one of the best ways we can protect the health of our planet for future generations. And it’s very close to our hearts at Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust.

The woodlands we have here in the Dales define our landscape, provide irreplaceable habitats for wildlife and peaceful places for people to connect with nature.

25 years ago we joined forces with other organisations to expand tree cover across the Yorkshire Dales and surrounding areas. Since then, we’ve supported the planting of over 1.5 million native broadleaf trees.  

We’re not alone in our campaign to bring native woodlands back to the Dales. We work with partners, landowners and rely on donations and support from many thousands of people who share our love of trees.

Why do we need more trees in the Dales? 

Planting trees is absolutely critical to help tackle climate change and nature loss. And it's even more important here in the Yorkshire Dales where woodland cover is just over 4% - compared to the national average of about 9%. Diseases, poor management, and our increasing disconnection with nature, all place a significant threat on the valuable woodlands we have left.  

As a member of the Dales Woodland Forum our vision for 2040 is that:

Trees and woodlands in the Yorkshire Dales will: contribute significantly to a carbon net zero National Park, enable habitat connectivity, improve water quality and reduce flooding, in a way that enhances the landscape and special qualities of the area, provide health and amenity benefits to people, and be economic for landowners.

In order to fulfil this vision, woodlands will need to expand in size and number and become increasingly connected as well as being resilient and sustainably managed.

Our aim is to create 6,000 hectares of woodland habitat in the Yorkshire Dales National Park by 2040. That would take the area of the National Park covered by woodland, which is currently the smallest of any of England’s National Parks, from 4.3% to 7%.

Woodlands of all shapes and sizes

At YDMT we support woodland schemes of all shapes and sizes, including copses, connective planting and hedgerows as well as riparian strips along riverbanks. Smaller scale woodland creation is normally underfunded and overlooked, but has immense value for people, landscape and wildlife.

These woodlands will absorb carbon, connect habitats, improve water quality and reduce flooding, as well as providing beautiful spaces for people to enjoy.

Woodland Management 

Smaller woodlands have the potential to be mighty marvels, as a biodiverse patchwork quilt across the Yorkshire Dales and beyond. But our woodlands are under threat. Many are fragmented, have suffered from ash dieback and show few signs of natural regeneration.

The loss of the few small pockets of ancient semi natural woodland that exist across the Yorkshire Dales could result in a whole array of associated flora and fauna being lost for generations.

YDMT’s Woodland Management programme launched in 2023, thanks to funding from the Peter Sowerby Foundation, helps to enhance the patchwork mosaic of woodlands across the Yorkshire Dales National Park, Nidderdale, and beyond, into parts of Cumbria and the Forest of Bowland.

The scheme focuses on smaller woodlands – where previously funding and support for woodland management was not available. It will prepare small woodland management plans for landowners, and offer grants for management tasks such as thinning, underplanting and repairing boundaries.

Our woodlands need to be well managed and protected to ensure they are healthy and resilient – bringing maximum benefits for people, nature and the wider environment.

Helping our woodlands thrive   

The programme launched when there was little provision for smaller woodlands of less than 3 hectares and supports landowners and communities to access woodland management services they would otherwise have to seek expensive specialist contractors for.

It’s hoped that 50 small woodlands will be brought into active management over the next three years through the scheme. This will be done by providing woodland management plans and funding for management tasks such as thinning, underplanting and repairing boundaries. YDMT can also help provide labour, in the form of volunteers, project officers and trainees.

Boosting biodiversity

A key part of the Woodland Management programme will be carrying out woodland condition surveys, as well as monitoring the biodiversity of woodland sites.

We will revisit newly created woodlands to improve management and boost biodiversity through activities such as under planting, coppicing and removal of plastic tree guards. New ways of improving woodlands will also be trialled, like deer exclusion zones, ‘dead hedges', and promoting regeneration with screefing and introducing plug plants and soil to develop the ground flora.

Plastic Free Woodlands 

It is estimated that 30,000 plastic tree shelters – used to protect saplings when they are first planted – will be removed and recycled as part of the scheme. 

YDMT continues to play a leading role in the reduction of the use of single use plastic in the forestry sector - as a founding member of the Forest Plastics Working Group. Find out more about Plastic Free Woodlands  

Trees for people

The future of our woodlands depends on inspiring more people to care about the natural world and empowering them to take simple actions to support nature.

People are at the very heart of all our woodland schemes. We support communities to create their own woodlands, provide training for young people to get jobs in the sector and opportunities for a diverse range of people to get involved in tree planting and other woodland activities.

By bringing people together to plant the trees, we help develop skills, improve well-being, and inspire people to care for them in future. 

We’re supporting the next generation of tree planters with more opportunities for young people to get involved in tree planting and woodland activities of all kinds. We also provide training for young people to get jobs in the sector.