Tree planting to begin at delayed forest project

3 hours ago

Hannah MitchellNorth East and Cumbria

News image — Around 600,000 individual trees will be planted at the site at Greencroft Forest Park

BBC The ruins of an old building, Greencroft Hall, among lie on the ground in a wooded area. In the background there are trees and the ground is covered in fallen leaves, moss and rocks. — Around 600,000 individual trees will be planted at the site at Greencroft Forest Park

Tree planting is to begin on a new community forest project after the High Court dismissed a legal challenge against it.

Almost 300 hectares of woodland will be created at Greencroft Forest Park in County Durham, making it "England's largest new productive and mixed woodland in over 40 years", according to investment firm True North.

The project was put on hold after a legal challenge by local firm Lanchester Properties, but judges ruled in favour of the developers in July 2026.

About 600,000 trees will be planted at the site, which True North says will "deliver a range of ecological, economic, and community benefits".

More than 30 different species of trees selected for biodiversity and timber use will be planted and maintained for the next 15 years, with 198 hectares of former agricultural land dedicated to productive conifer planting.

Chief executive of True North, Harry Humble, said: "This has been a complex, costly and time–consuming development, and we are excited to finally get trees into the ground and create a forest that local people can enjoy for decades to come."

Harry Humble, chief executive of True North, stands in a wooded area wearing a khaki coloured jacket and looking at the camera. There are lots of brown leaves on the ground. — Harry Humble said he was "excited to finally get trees into the ground"

It is projected that the forest will produce more than 110,000 tonnes of sustainably grown timber by 2046 and it is expected to capture more that 67,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide in its first 100 years.

True North said that tree planting at Greencroft Forest Park will reduce flood risk in the Lanchester area by lowering river levels by up to 10%.

Thirty-seven acres of wet woodland will be planted around the flood-prone areas of Newhouse and Smallhope Burns.

The project is jointly funded by the Forestry Commission and North East Community Forest Trees for Climate grant, a woodland creation programme managed by the North East Community Forest and funded by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).

Forest manager for North East Community Forest, Lloyd Jones, said the project would "help to build sustainable resources for future generations".

Plans for the project also include improvements to public footpaths around the site, including accessible paths suitable for wheelchair and pushchair users.

It is hoped tree-planting will be completed by 30 April 2027.

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