About the trustSponsor: Rotary Club of Harrogate, District 1040, England.
Introduction: The Nidderdale was registered on 14th February 1994 as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) covering an area of 233 square miles (603 km2) in the foothills of the Pennines, North Yorkshire in England.
20,534 hectares (34%) of the AONB is moorland dominated by heather; 5,946 hectares of upland heath and blanket bog; and 7% of the AONB is woodland including 1,200 hectares of Ancient Woodland, 2,450 hectares is planted as conifer woodland and 1,400 hectares is broadleaved trees.
In the distant past the Nidderdale Valley and surrounding area was fully forested but farming practices over the years resulted in the ancient woodlands being removed. Where cultivation or grazing was impossible or uneconomic on the cleared peaty land, quick growing conifers were planted as a cash crop.
The Project: To plant European species off Broadleaf Trees to form a barrier against the further encroachment of the moorland heather and other scrub plants, and to replant the conifers with broadleaf trees. By so doing this valuable woodland sites can be restored, further the creation of new woodland in appropriate areas will enhance the diversity and natural beauty of Nidderdale and provide a natural heritage for future generations.
New planting in other areas will extend the beneficial woodland habitats. Apart from enhancing the areas diversity the major benefit is the provision of a long term CO2 store. It is estimated in this part of northern England one broadleaf tree such as Oak, Ash, or Alder will absorb about 0.17 tonnes in its first 10 years, and, over its lifetime, up to 3.4 tonnes and also ensure that carbon deposits stay locked up in the peat, an added benefit towards meeting carbon reduction targets.
Project web site http://www.harrogate.rotary1040.org
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