It was a grey and murky November morning when three members of the YPS team made their way to Hedley Hall Woods for a tree planting day. Organised by Premier Paper. Moreover, the site just outside of Gateshead, is part of the The Woodland Trust. A charity supported by Premier Paper through their Carbon Capture scheme.
The scheme operates under the Government’s Woodland Carbon Code. A voluntary standard for woodland creation projects in the UK. The independent certification to this standard provides assurance and clarity about the carbon benefits of these sustainably managed woodlands. It is calculated that 25m2 of native UK woodland will capture and store one tonne of CO2. Creating large areas of new native woodland, that will, over time. Remove hundreds of thousands of tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Furthermore, there was around 20 in the group. After instruction from The Woodland Trust guys, we were shown to the newly acquired area where the trees were to be planted. There was a mix of species of trees native to the UK including oak, ash and elm.
Moreover, the weather left a lot to be desired but it did not dampen the teams spirit. With 1,300 trees planted altogether. The sun decided to make an appearance as the last trees were being planted, ending the day on a high note.
The Woodland Trust is a charity registered in England and Wales (No 294344) and in Scotland (No SC038885): To find out more go to www.woodlandtrust.org.uk.