AFTER planting more than 65,000 trees across the North York Moors National Park, landowners are being encouraged to reap the rewards.

The Woodland Creation Grant Scheme is calling for Ryedale farmers and estate owners to champion the fully-funded programme being offered by the North York Moors National Park Authority.

Over the last three years, landowners within the National Park were the driving force behind planting more than 65,000 trees in a bid to tackle ecological struggles.

Alasdair Fagan, Woodland Creation officer, said: “The environmental gains from planting trees are massively beneficial.

“A hundred per cent of the Woodland Creation Grant Scheme is paid for, so nobody has to dig deep into their pockets.

“We administrate everything ourselves. The scheme is easy to access and not even an application form to fill in.

“We desire to work alongside landowners to create a lasting legacy of sustainable, native woodland within our much-loved National Park.”

Funding is available for all the costs within the first year, which includes the cost for trees, labour, materials, fencing and covers five years of maintenance.

Similar schemes, such as the Pontbren Project ran by a group of Welsh farmers, have shown how shelter created from trees can help to moderate wind speeds, increase soil temperatures and extend the growing season of grass.

Alasdair said: “The introduction of trees into the landscape can have lots of advantages, from slowing the flow of water downstream to providing shelter for livestock.

“For example, tree shelter can reduce the amount of newborn lambs being lost by providing ewes with greater isolation during lambing season.

“During such ecological uncertainty, the need to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide entering our atmosphere by providing a process of photosynthesis.

“There are more far-reaching advantages from woodlands that benefit everyone.”

For more information, visit northyorkmoors.org.uk/woodlandcreation. Alternatively, email Alasdair at a.fagan@northyorkmoors.org.uk or phone 01439 772700.

This story first appeared in the Gazette & Herald.