Communities put down roots to ensure a greener future in North Tyneside

North Tyneside communities have planted over 11,000 trees in the borough since 2021 as part of an action on climate change.

Three volunteer groups got their hands dirty participating in tree-planting events held in North Tyneside in January and February. The newly planted trees, planted by volunteers from a variety of different backgrounds and organisations, become part of the North East Community Forest.

The North East Community Forest launched in 2021, with a 30-year vision to increase tree coverage across forest areas in the North East. The Community Forest is a collaboration between local and combined authorities, charities, and organisations. It covers 1,503 square kilometres of North East England, including the entire geographical boundary of North Tyneside, where the recent events took place.

In January, Northumberland Wildlife Trust and volunteers from North Tyneside Council attended the first event in Seaton Burn. The Council is one of six local authorities in the partnership; as part of its commitment to being carbon net-zero by 2030, the authority is working to implement more sustainable practices across the organisation.

The most recent tree planting efforts are part of this wider campaign, aiming to enhance local biodiversity and create happier and healthier places for people in North Tyneside to live, work and visit. Together, the Trust and Council volunteers successfully planted 650 whips and 5 standard trees.

These efforts were matched by community volunteers in Wideopen, who planted 550 whips in Brunswick Green in January.

Students and teachers at St Columba’s Primary school in North Shields were joined by Councillor Sandra Graham, cabinet member for Environment at North Tyneside Council, in February. They planted 20 whips on site at the school.

Councillor Graham said: “As a council, we are absolutely committed to making our borough a healthy and sustainable place to live and work.

“Regular tree planting as part of the Community Forest helps us to strengthen biodiversity and better prepare North Tyneside to face future climate challenges. 

“The trees planted during the latest three events, alone, will have an amazing impact on our communities: lessening our carbon impact and enhancing green spaces for everyone.

“I am thrilled to have been involved in these events and am enormously encouraged by the devotion that the people in our community have shown to the cause.”

Enthusiastic young students from St Columba’s Primary school shared their motivations behind the planting efforts too:

Sophie, a pupil in year 6, said: “there’s a lot of rubbish in the ocean; by planting trees we’re helping to undo some of the damage that we’ve caused”.

Harrison, a year 1 pupil, said that he was planting trees “to help the environment and the world.”

Collectively, the three volunteer groups planted a total of 1,220 whip and 5 standard trees across January and February.

These trees are expected to capture 61,000 tonnes of carbon (tCO2e) over 100 years, helping North Tyneside become more resilient to climate change.

To find out how you can get involved with the North East Community Forest, visit the dedicated web pages.