Local residents and businesses took part in the planting of over 700 trees on the land between Lymedale Business Park and the Cotswold Estate in Knutton, Newcastle, Staffordshire, during National Tree Week (26 November – 7 December 2008).

New Knutton Residents’ Association worked with Aspire Housing to give local residents the countryside views they had, before the development of Lymedale Business Park. The group and volunteers planted bare-rooted feathered ‘whips’ of species, including English Oak, Common Ash, Silver Birch, Field Maple, Common Alder, Wild Cherry and Crab Apple.

The event took place on Wednesday 3rd December and received funding from the Neighbourhood Management Pathfinder Community Acton Fund, Newcastle Borough Council for its Local Agenda 21, the Woodland Trust and other private contributors.

Residents’ Association Chairman, Tony Eagles, is delighted with the success of the event and said: “People don’t realise that planting trees is one of the easiest ways to offset a business’ carbon footprint and work towards becoming carbon neutral, as trees absorb carbon dioxide to produce oxygen.”

He continued: “The area of land we have started to fill is enormous and we hope to have the maximum impact on the local environment. Visually, however, we will have to wait a few more years, as the trees become established.”

The Residents’ Association received advice from the Newcastle Countryside Project, Staffordshire County Council and Newcastle Borough Council. The group feel that with the current lack of mature trees in the area generally, there is a need to sustain and increase the benefits to the public by expanding existing woodlands.

Pete Wells, from the Newcastle Countryside Project, has been advising the group of residents and recruited volunteers from Bursley, Churchfields, Silverdale, Knutton St. Mary’s Primary Schools and Newcastle Community High School.

He said: “The project will contribute to the landscape, increase the area’s wildlife and the community’s ownership of the countryside.”

Darren Green, Senior Regeneration Manager, at Aspire Housing said: “We are always looking at ways of working with local communities to assist them in improving their living environment.

He added: “A large planting scheme, such as this, gives the opportunity for people to come together today to benefit future generations.”

The Residents’ Association is looking for people to purchase more trees to plant in 2009.

Email: mbrookes@aspirehousing.co.uk