City of York Council and Forestry England were joined by seven local school children from Poppleton Ousebank Primary School for the planting.
York Community Woodland will cover 194 acres near Knapton. Over 100,000 trees and shrubs in the woodland will be planted over the next few years.
The woodland will benefit York’s natural ecosystem by promoting biodiversity and supporting carbon absorption from the atmosphere.
This will help the city reach its Carbon Net-Zero goal by 2030.
Future plans for the area include:
• multi-user trails
• wooded areas
• wildflower meadow
• contemplative area
Cllr Keith Aspden, Leader of City of York Council, said:
“Planting the first trees in our new community woodland marks a significant milestone for the project. I’m delighted that we’ve begun to break ground and sow this woodland for the residents and visitors to enjoy for generations to come.
“As Forestry England work across the next couple of years preparing and planting the site, there will be many opportunities for local residents to get involved in shaping and enjoying this new community space.”
To find out more about the project, visit www.york.gov.uk/YorkCommunityWoodland
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