Rushy Knowe is a 145-hectare site in Northumberland where we are planting 100 hectares of new woodland and supporting a variety of habitats. There will be areas of protected open habitat, creating a mosaic of glades and peatlands amongst the woodland.
Working with nature
To plan how we use this site, we have pioneered a natural capital assessment tool. This allows us to test different scenarios, including the type of woodland planted, to meet a range of benefits such as: climate regulation (carbon sequestration), timber production, priority habitat protection, recreation and impact on the landscape. We are planting a mixture of conifer and native broadleaf woodland to meet a balanced range of these benefits, for the enjoyment of the forest into the future.
As the woodland grows and develops, a variety of habitats will support a range of wildlife. We will improve the condition of protected habitat and grazing livestock may help to maintain the open grassland at Rushy Knowe.
Working with the community
Working with local people along the way, we are providing opportunities for public access and recreation in a woodland for everyone.
After the public consultation process, we adapted the plans to ensure the stunning view across Kielder Water is maintained; an iconic view to be enjoyed.
Autumn and winter 2024: latest news
We have now planted approximately 200,000 trees and completed phase one at Rushy Knowe. These include 12 species of broadleaves and nine species of conifer.
We started planting in 2019, the year we celebrated 100 years of forestry. Thank you to our dedicated staff and volunteers for helping us create this fantastic new woodland.
In spring 2024 we planted a further 45,000 trees as part of phase two. We are currently in the delivery stage of phase two, where we will replace any dead or dying trees as well as removing any plastic guards for recycling. The broadleaves that we planted are coming into their autumn colours and have exceeded all expectations; many are now over 3m tall.
The story so far - project videos
Catch up on where the project started and what we've done so far on our YouTube video playlist
