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12
Nov 2024
What's happening to Harrogate's new forest — and what's the cost?
It's been more than six months since Forestry England announced plans for a new woodland near Harrogate.
The organisation revealed in April it intends to create a 35-hectare forest at Haverah Park, near Beckwithshaw.
Last month Forestry England said it hoped to begin work in the new year, after previously telling the Stray Ferret planting should be complete by March 2025.
The 80,000-tree project is being funded by the government’s £640 million Nature for Climate Fund.
But the cost of the taxpayer-funded project has remained a tightly-kept secret — despite numerous requests by the Stray Ferret.
We have attended a public consultation, submitted a freedom of information request and asked directly about the cost on several occasions.
We recently approached Forestry England, which is part of the Forestry Commission public body, again for an update.
A spokesperson today said it "does not have a final budget for the scheme", despite work looking to start in just a few weeks' time.
The spokesperson added they were unsure if the cost will be disclosed, as it could be deemed commercially sensitive due to ongoing environmental assessments by external agencies.
Updated design plan. Credit: Forestry England
What is the scheme?
Haverah Park is part of a wider commitment to plant 30,000 hectares of new woodland in England by 2025.
Some trees would be felled in 25 years and replaced to create a sustainable source of timber, a spokesperson said at July’s consultation event, adding around 80% of the country’s timber is currently imported.
Following the consultation, Forestry England submitted the latest version of the proposal for review in September.
It included a report collating feedback on the plans, which comprised 60 responses – 30 of which praised the plans.
People said it was a “brilliant” idea and welcomed an environmentally beneficial scheme, while others said they supported any form of tree-planting or re-wilding.
However, concerns were raised about issues with traffic and parking, disruption of bird habitats, timber protection, and worries about the ownership and future of the woodland.
Forestry England said it considered the responses and amended the design proposals accordingly.
The report said it plans to preserve more open space next to Moor Park, increased the number of broadleaf trees and is set to replace proposed Scots pine with willow trees.
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