By james art 
Dozens of local children, along with members of charity organizations and public groups, gathered to help create a new forest with 18 hectares in place of a former surface mine in Durham County.
Mining -based Northeastern Banking Bank has expanded its original Bradley Surface Mine Restoration Plan, located between Leadgate and Dipton to include the planting of 36,000 trees and shrubs.
To help increase community involvement in the project that covers a part of an area that can be accessible by the public through the granted pedestrian paths, the family company invites a number S
More than 170 children from Leadgate Primary School, Collegers’ Primary School in Dipton, Bishop Ian Ramsay Primary School in Medomsley, the Primary School of the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph in Metley and St. Patrick in Dipton have planted trees that will now grow, As they grow themselves.
Random’s Retreat CIC teams, the construction of CIC for self -confidence and the Headgate Health Walkers group also stain their hands, along with a number of locals.
More than 2000 trees have been planted in total during the week, with a sustainable forest management and forest management company is now continuing to plant the forest, which is expected to be completed by the end of March.
Christine Thomas, CEO CEO, based in Consese buildings that works to build stronger communities by building self-esteem in vulnerable young people throughout the region, says:
“We manage a number of environmental projects and we also have our own garden in the community, so planting the forest was something that our team really wanted to get involved with.
“The help of creating a long -term heritage, as part of the regeneration of this site, is really important to us and we are excited to see the forest ripen in the future.”
Mandy Kelly, founder of the Medomsley -based outdoor training and well -being of the center of Random’s Rendate, adds:
“We have done a lot of work and planting our own site and find that users of services that do this work receive a real sense of property, belonging and achievements from what they have created.”
The Woodland project is presented with the support of the Bradley Relationship Committee, which is chaired by CLLR ALAN Shields and composed of members of the Durham County County Council, local groups and residents and the Forestry Committee Office, administered by the Forest Committee administered S
About 93% of the trees in the new forest will be deciduous trees, such as species, including pedicular oak, oak, hazelnut, cherry, crab apple, silver and lower birch.
New pedestrian paths that will move with the rest of the site, which have been restored as part of its restoration, are also created to maximize public access to the site.
Kate Culverhouse, Community Relationship Manager at Banks Group, says:
“The help we had from the local volunteers of all ages at the beginning of the creation of this valuable new community asset was fantastic and it was great to see how enthusiastic everyone was involved.
“Planting this new forest will improve the long -term benefits of biodiversity that we can provide and bring additional wildlife habitats on the site, while providing more opportunities for local people to enjoy it for leisure time.
“We are very grateful to the Bradley Committee, the Durham County Council, the Forestry Tilhil and the Forest Committee to support them in achieving these plans and excited to see that the new forest is beginning to be shaped.”
The Yorkshire Forest Committee and the Director of the Northeastern Crispin Torne region adds:
“This is a fantastic example of how communities can gather to create durable green spaces that will be beneficial for both humans and wildlife.
“The creation of this new forest is welcome to the cover of Woodland in the northeastern community forest and will play a vital role in supporting the biodiversity and capture of carbon while providing space to the locals to enjoy.
“We are proud to support such initiatives through the offer to create the forest in England and look forward to seeing the positive impact this forest will have on the local communities.”