Clough Woodland Restoration in the High Peak

Trees as far as the eye can see

The trees that you may have spotted being planted in the High Peak, are part of the wider Clough Woodlands Project, which evidence of can also be seen across the area with more and more trees being planted by our rangers and volunteers. The regeneration of native woodland in the cloughs and valley sides of the High Peak Moors are part of the National Trust’s 50-year vision for this area, aiming to create an inspirational twenty-first century landscape of restored and healthy landscapes. Our woodland restoration work will help to improve the structure and quality of biodiversity, habitats and the landscape, stabilise soil, help manage bracken, give shelter to wildlife and farm animals, improve water quality, mitigate flooding events, and store carbon. 

The 20 million pledge 

The trees planted as part of the Clough Woodland Restoration project count towards the 20 million trees the Trust has pledged to plant by 2030. ‘We’ve planted thousands of saplings across the hillside here,’ says Kait Jones, Area Ranger for the High Peak Estate. ‘The trees will become home to a huge array of wildlife. The new woodland will store carbon and stabilise the soil, helping reduce the risk of flooding lower down the valley.’

The trees are a mixture of native species, including sessile oak, silver birch, rowan, hawthorn and hazel. Each sapling has a guard to protect it from grazing animals. Once the trees are established, the rangers will remove the guards and allow the trees to grow and spread, free from human interference. ‘This is only the seventh year of the 50-year woodland project here, so there is plenty more hard work to come,’ says Kait.

More information on the Trust's pledge to plant 20 million trees by 2030 can be found here.

Treemendous amount of support

How many more times can we say trees! We are passionate about trees and we know lots of other people are too. You can help support our work and help our teams to get more trees in the ground by donating to our Woods for the Future Peak District Appeal. Every £10 donated allows us to plant a native sapling in cloughs and valleys of the High Peak and re-plant in areas affected by ash dieback - thank you.

The right tree in the right place

When it comes to soil and tree types and what needs to go where, our rangers have had years and years of extensive training and practical application in the care for land, outdoors and nature and collectively have a wealth of experience between them all. 'The study shows that when deciding where to plant, it’s important to first consider the soil’s existing carbon levels. Landowners will already be aware of these levels based on their location, vegetation type and soil characteristics,' The Woodland Trust. For more information on trees for the right place, head over to the Woodland Trust's website or the Foresty Commission website.