Roz: "In the Peak District our Clough Woodland Project is all about planting native broadleaves in some of the cloughs to establish new and expand existing areas of woodland habitat. This new habitat will increase biodiversity of species as part of the High Peak Vision (50 year plan).The project links in well with our High Peak Moors Vision plan, which is all about holding water on the moors, and slowing the flow downstream to reduce the risk of flooding in future storm events. Wooded cloughs will contribute to this with the tree roots absorbing water as well as holding the soil together to prevent erosion. The tree nursery project is a great chance to engage with the public about the work we do Peak District wide, as often the areas we work on are remote so it’s difficult to share the great things we’re doing."
What benefits will it bring to Longshaw?
Lucy: “We’ve chosen to plant the tree nursery at Longshaw because it’s somewhere people can easily get to – it has thousands of visitors; from school groups to families and independent adults, who will be able to see the trees as they grow. We want to ask people about woodlands and why they’re important; and for people of all ages to be able to ask us about our major conservation projects across the Peak District. The National Trust is working to plant up 22 sites across the Peak District, which means a lot of trees! If people grow to love trees and the woods, we hope they will also help to look after them – they can do that through joining in our autumn-time seed collecting Muck In Day, helping with our woodland work at winter Muck In Days, or simply donating to the Peak District Appeal online or on site. This support will literally help to grow woods for the future."
Which species of trees are being planted & what wildlife are they are good for?
Mature oaks in parkland and open oak woodland are the perfect habitat for red and amber listed birds such as pied flycatchers, redstarts and wood warblers. These birds migrate from Africa every spring to come and enjoy our open oak woodlands and all the insect life they host.
In the Dark Peak we’re planting a mixture of native broadleaves including birch, rowan, alder, oak, hawthorn, cherry, holly and hazel. Trees which produce flowers such as cherry and hawthorn are great for pollinators and insects, which then provide food for other species like bats and birds. Trees which produce berries are great for birds, and rowan trees tend to grow well up in the cloughs, if you walk around the estate you can see some natural regeneration. We’re planting scrubby species too like hawthorn and holly, these are small trees which provide good shelter for wildlife and livestock once they are established.