North East Community Forest celebrates record-breaking planting season
Today, with the release of the North East Community Forest (NECF) 2024/25 Annual Report, we are proud to announce our most successful tree planting season to date, marking a significant milestone in our mission to create greener, healthier communities across the region.
During the 2024 / 2025 planting season, the NECF has planted 156,451 trees across 124 sites in Newcastle, Gateshead, North and South Tyneside, Sunderland, and urban County Durham, with 228.40 gross hectares of new woodlands, trees, hedgerows, and open space habitat created.
Our planting projects have included 7,461.5 linear meters of new hedgerow established, including in-hedge trees, 12.5 kilometres of new footpaths laid within woodland creation sites and 45.68 hectares of open space developed, including rides, glades, pathways, grasses, and herbaceous plants.
This has all been possible thanks to £4.7 million in funding secured to support woodland creation and community engagement.
This remarkable work is projected to remove approximately 70,857 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere over the next 30 years.
Lloyd Jones, Forest Manager of the North East Community Forest, said:
“This year’s achievements are a testament to the power of collaboration and community spirit. We’ve not only planted thousands of trees but also created spaces that will benefit people and wildlife for generations. I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together.”
Cllr Alex Hay, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods, Newcastle City Council, added:
“The scale of this year’s planting is truly inspiring. These new woodlands are not only transforming landscapes but also creating spaces where communities and nature can flourish together. They’re a vital part of our commitment to a cleaner, greener region. Thank you to our dedicated team and all our partners for making this possible.”
Bethan Kelly, Community Advisor of the North East Community Forest said:
“Something I am most proud of this year is the level of on-site engagement we have had with school children, residents, community groups, and local businesses. Collectively, they have helped plant and maintain trees over 88 volunteer tree planting events, involving 2,160 volunteers who planted 11,610 trees and contributed 5,338 hours of their time. Overall, the 2024/25 NECF programme engaged 6,480 people and achieved a digital reach and engagement of over 60,000 across our social media channels.”
The NECF is part of the national Trees for Climate programme, funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs through the Nature for Climate Fund and overseen by England Community Forests. The Forest works with local authorities, environmental organisations, and volunteers to deliver woodland, tree, and hedge planting projects of all sizes, from farms and private estates to parks and community spaces.
A Trees for Climate grant could cover all costs associated with woodland creation, for eligible projects, as well as providing ongoing funding to support the maintenance of the trees. Landowners interested in contributing to future planting seasons are encouraged to contact the NECF team at info@necf.org.uk to explore funding and support opportunities. More information on the NECF can be obtained on their website https://northeastcommunityforest.org.uk.
The full NECF 2024/25 annual report can be viewed here: NECF Annual Report 2024/25