New 7,000 tree woodland set to be planted

A new woodland is set to be created on the edge of a town in Leicestershire.

Charnwood Borough Council said 7,000 trees would be planted in two fields off Nanpantan Road Cemetery in Loughborough.

Tree planting at the 8.6 hectare site is set to begin later this month with a combination of native species including oak, birch, ash and rowan.

Beverley Gray, the council's lead member for biodiversity, said the authority was "delighted" to secure £172,000 in funding from the National Forest to finance the creation of the woodland and an accessibility track.

It is expected the woodland will take about 30 years to fully mature with some trees maturing within 10 years, the authority added.

Stuart Dainton, head of land management and estate at National Forest, said: "This woodland will provide a hub for the people of Charnwood to meet with friends, family and explore the outdoors right on their doorstep."

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