At Forestry England, we're restoring habitats in our upland landscapes at Dodd Wood and Whinlatter in the Lake District.
Here we’re looking to create habitats that are more like the rich, biodiverse mountain areas found in parts of Europe and that used to exist here.
Our restoration work will help wildlife, improve plant diversity, tackle climate change.
We'll carefully choose tree species that will both thrive at these new sites now, and be resilient to future climate conditions as they grow and mature. The land will be planted with a mixture of native species, chosen to match local soil types. The landscape design will also incorporate open space for conservation and visual diversity
We’re inviting feedback on our draft design proposals for habitat restoration. You can comment online until Sunday 6 July via the button below.
We'll also be showcasing our proposals at the Whinlatter Visitor Centre - details can be found on the consultation page too.
When will works start and finish?
If the feedback from the consultation is supportive we hope to start planting in winter 2025/26. It will take some years for the new woodland to become established so it could be into the late 2030’s before the woodland will be visible from a distance.
How do I stay in touch about the project?
We will post key updates on this webpage as the project progresses.
What species of trees will you be planting?
We will be planting native species including Scots pine, birch, aspen, juniper, rowan, willow and hawthorn.
Will the tree planting impact on breeding birds?
We have been working with a local bird expert to ensure that the proposed planting does not impact the areas of open mountain used for breeding and nesting by rare bird species such as ring ouzel.
Will you be protecting the trees with tree shelters?
No we won’t be using tree shelters as the site is very rocky and exposed so its unlikely that tree shelters would able to stand upright through a Cumbrian winter. We also recognise that shelters in such a landscape would be a detracting feature.
