Woodland Creation Potential - Northumberland

The Great Northumberland Forest is a plan to establish millions of trees, creating more wooded landscapes across the county by 2030.

This will help tackle some of the big challenges facing society, such as climate change, biodiversity decline, while promoting health and wellbeing, and supporting a thriving local economy.

"The idea is inspired by our determination to leave a better, more diverse, and more productive natural environment for future generations. By planting more trees, we will create new natural environments that our children, communities and businesses will benefit from in decades to come." (Vision Statement, June 2020)

The Northumberland Woodland Creation Partnership has been formed to bring about an increase in the speed and extent of appropriate tree planting schemes across Northumberland.

The vision of the Woodland Creation Partnership is that a variety of different woodland types and woodland sizes can be created to suit local needs. This includes planting and / or encouraging natural regeneration of individual trees, orchards, agroforestry, and small community woodlands, to larger-scale schemes that bring together farming, forestry, biodiversity, and recreation. In some places there will be slow-growing native woodlands providing habitats for treasured wildlife. In other places there will be faster growing, productive woodlands that will rapidly absorb carbon and produce timber. You can download our full vision document  from our website .

A 'forest' in this sense does not mean new, continuous, large, planted areas. It means a generally more wooded or tree covered landscape.

We are not setting a target of hectares to plant. Our mission is to empower and support our communities, landowners and farmers to create and to expand woodland areas across the county.

Our approach is guided by the principles of, “the right tree(s) in the right place, for the right reason, with the right management”. We will balance the needs of nature and the rural economy with the interests of people, communities, landowners, and land managers in local areas across Northumberland.

This work doesn’t wish to make any assumptions on what landowners should do, it just gives a county-wide view of the areas of greatest potential for any tree planting or establishment.

The aim of this StoryMap is to guide site visits and discussions on the ground about the possible options and opportunities, and how they could be integrated into the landscape. This could then lead on to further advice, support, and guidance to develop projects and make the regulatory process more efficient on these sites. (For more visuals about landscape, see our  other StoryMap). 

This StoryMap will present first the datasets available for current woodland, then map and measure the potential at a broad county level.

Woodland cover in Northumberland is already healthy - about 19.7% of the county compared to a UK average of 13% and an England average of 10%. But that is not a good reason to do nothing! There is space within our landscapes to integrate more trees for the benefit of people, for nature and for the economy.

All tree planting will be guided by the key principles set out in the  UK Forestry Standard  and will recognise the range of services the ecosystems created can provide.

The mapping to illustrate what and where the woodland potential is in Northumberland is still evolving. There are areas where tree planting is unlikely to be appropriate because it would conflict with other considerations such as peaty soils, archaeological or historical features, landscape, and priority habitats or species, including breeding waders.

Specialist surveys may be needed where these features are on or near a proposed tree planting site. Guidance on carrying out natural environment surveys was published in December 2021 and relates to peat, vegetation and breeding birds. Some of these aspects can only be survyed at the right time of year. There is funding to help land managers with the survey work.  You can download the 30-page survey guide pdf from the gov.uk website . (And from that link you can also find further information on the survey requirements). The grant that can help pay for the survey is called the Woodland Creation Planning Grant.

The mapping illustrated here takes account of the 2022 guidance relating to upland breeding waders, especially curlew and golden plover.  You can download the 6-page guidance note for 2022 from the gov.uk website . This guidance note is to help with early decision making, and doesn't replace a full survey on the ground. Of course, there are other birds, like dunlin and twite, which could be impacted by a new woodland.

So, the mapping shown below is based on the current understanding of where tree planting is least constrained by these features. This is where the Northumberland Woodland Creation Partnership will focus its resources in encouraging tree planting to help respond to the climate emergency, to halt biodiversity decline and to support the rural economy.

Again, this work doesn't wish to make any assumptions on what landowners should do - it just gives a county-level view of the potential for any tree establishment, to guide site visits and discussions on the ground.

The maps on this StoryMap show the areas of greatest potential for trees and woodland creation. Within these areas there will be opportunities to put in place a wide range of ecosystem benefits and services. For example, landscapes, carbon storage, reducing the impacts of climate change, wildlife, timber production, rural jobs, recreation, soil retention, and providing clean air and water.

Delivering on these areas will help with a green recovery.

The Great Northumberland Forest vision provides a set of principles to guide our tree planting and woodland creation aspirations, so that new wooded areas will:

Trees have been part of the landscape in Northumberland since the end of the ice-age. The species present and the amount of cover has varied greatly over the last 12,000 years. The landscapes of the county have lost much of their tree cover through human activity, but there is scope for more to be planted and to regenerate while continuing with other land uses. This will have benefits for soil and water retention, biodiversity, carbon sequestration, timber production and landscape enhancement.

The rolling hills, moorlands, bogs, crags, rivers, grasslands and arable fields of the uplands and lowlands can all co-exist with woodland and add to a connected landscape of various habitats. Careful choice of species that will thrive in given areas and not impact on other important species and habitats will be needed to make sure the right trees are in the right places. 

The design of woodlands that enhances and follows the underlying landform and considers the landscape’s context and setting can be sensitively done, even in areas that have not seen trees for hundreds of years. 

In urban areas woodlands and trees can make an increasing contribution to urban character, quality of life and can be “green infrastructure” – bringing a natural element into urban lives that provide places for recreation and relaxation.

The areas identified in the maps above have the capacity for more trees and woodlands, covering the various landscapes of the county. It is crucial that landscape character and sensitivity are considered and assessed when developing concepts and proposals to establish new woodlands and tree establishment.

For more visualisation about landscapes, see our  landscape StoryMap .

Human-caused global warming is significantly changing our climate. This has been drive by our use of fossil fuels, which release carbon dioxide and methane into the air. In turn, these gasses trap heat, acting like a greenhouse. As well as increasing the Earth's average temperature, this effect also has specific impacts including:

• More intense and frequent severe storms - resulting in flooding, landslides and high winds
• Hotter temperatures and more intense heat waves - resulting in more heat stress and wildfires
• Increased droughts
• Loss of species - either as a direct result of these effect, or through losing habitat, and / or through human action.

Trees can help reduce these impacts. Photosynthesis is the process that trees carry out in order to grow. Trees absorb carbon dioxide, water, and energy from the sunlight - and transform it into sugar which the tree uses to grow. The by-product of photosynthesis is oxygen.

So, trees absorb carbon dioxide, reducing the concentration of the gas in the atmosphere, and therefore reducing the global warming effect. (However, we are still adding carbon through our activities...)

Trees and woodland creation can also reduce the impacts listed above:

• Flooding - Trees absorb water through photosynthesis. Also, the physical structure of trees makes the landform more complex, effectivity roughening it up, which slows down the flow of water across the landscape. The leaves, branches and trunks also help evaporation and catch, temporarily holding rainwater.
• Landslides - Trees increase the stability of slopes, with their roots reaching down into the soil layers, anchoring the tree and reducing soil movement - even when the soil is saturated. Soil in streams and rivers is not good for freshwater wildlife.
• Heat stresses and wildfires - Trees provide shelter and shade to escape the heat of the sun. They can also be useful when combatting wildfires which often happen in open habitats. Trees diversify the landscape and can act as fire breaks (depending on the species and the planting design), slowing the spread of fires.
• Droughts - Trees can store water within the stem after it has been absorbed for photosynthesis. Unused water evaporates from the leaf surface (transpiration) which then feeds into the water cycle. Trees also provide shade which can create a micro-climate underneath the canopy - useful moist habitat niches for plants and animals.
• Species - Trees, woodlands and forests provide vital habitats for a wide range of species. The size and scale of this resource helps to make these species more resilient to changes in the climate.

Tree planting and tree establishment will all contribute towards mitigating the impacts of climate change. Different species and locations will offer different opportunities to reduce these impacts, and can only be considered on a site-by-site basis to make the most of their ability to help.

Find out everything planting trees can do for the planet, our health, and the economy in  this infographic  on the Forestry Commission blog.

Farming delivers a wide range of economic, social, and environmental benefits as well as providing the food we need. The sector ensures a safe domestic supply of food, is responsible for the management of large parts of our countryside and is a source of employment. Farming drives rural growth through food production, land management and diversified industries such as renewable energy, tourism, and woodland management.

Trees, hedgerows, and woodlands on farms have long been some of the key features that give a strong sense of nature and wildlife in our valued and loved landscapes. In many cases trees can offer practical farmland benefits too, from acting as boundary features to offering shade for livestock in the summer months. 

Trees and hedgerows act as vital carbon stores - important in light of our understanding of global climate change, and for us all in the future.

Modern forestry and woodland management balances timber production with recreation, environmental sustainability, and wildlife conservation. It can be a source of income that supports a farming business now and into the future. 

The areas identified above are suitable for tree establishment and woodland creation – trees that are integrated into land management, trees that combine farming, forestry and other rural businesses with conservation, and recreation. This is crucial to secure long-term prosperity for the people who live, work and care for the countryside and the wider community.

Forests and woodlands are places to seek adventure, make memories and find escape. They are ever-changing environments that boost people's quality of life by providing places to enjoy watching wildlife, walking, running, riding, and playing amongst the trees.

Time spent in woods links us to the seasons, as well as giving us a sense of history and time.

Scientific evidence shows that being in woods can have a positive impact on our health. For example, visits to woods and forests can lower our blood pressure and pulse rates, as well as reduce stress levels. Being in woods can also improve our mental, social, and physical wellbeing.

The whole area in the maps above is suitable for woodland that creates green spaces for people to enjoy. Tree planting closer to where people live would reduce the need to travel and so be easier to access, whilst also having a bigger impact on improving air quality in urban areas.

Woodlands and trees outside woods like copses, hedgerows, scattered trees, and orchards, make important contributions to the ecological functioning and to the connectivity of landscapes. In particular, these trees outside woods can reduce the impacts of habitat fragmentation.

Forests and woodlands are home to a wealth of wildlife - from shade-loving plants and delicate fungi, to nesting birds, rare insects and elusive mammals, such as red squirrels. Some of these rare plants and species can only live in woodlands.

Well-managed ancient woodland supports more species than any other land-based habitat. They have been identified as a key habitat in the pilot " Local Nature Recovery Strategy ". This strategy aims to address the decline of nature and biodiversity.

Native woodland creation, and tree and shrub planting - especially where these sites link existing species-rich woodland sites - is recognised in the strategy as one of the best ways for restoring Northumberland's wildlife and improving the functioning of the ecosystems.

The whole area in the maps above is suitable for woodland that creates habitats for a variety of species. The strategy will help prioritise where the top priorities are, but also recognises the importance of 'connectivity' between habitats across the landscape to reduce fragmentation. In this way, species can move about and hopefully adapt to a changing climate.

Trees can replicate the functions of the human liver and lungs and are amazing filters. As well as capturing and storing carbon and producing oxygen, they also play a vital role in removing atmospheric pollutants from the air. Planting the right trees in the right places can improve air quality, particularly in urban areas where pollutant concentrations are generally higher.

Trees also play an important role in reducing the risk of flooding and in maintaining and improving water quality. The main issue is that during periods of rainfall more sediment becomes mobile and enters watercourses, which has impacts on habitats and wildlife. Trees can combat that by catching rainfall before it hits the ground through leaves and branches and also by absorbing a significant volume of water, particularly when they are photosynthesising. The root structure of trees also holds the soil together, making it less able to become mobile and get washed into rivers during rainfall.

Trees next to watercourses also provide materials (branches and leaf litter) to the river system. These materials help to drive the aquatic food chain - as they support bacteria, fungi, and invertebrates, which in turn feed other invertebrates, fish (which helps to support sport fisheries), crayfish (also an invertebrate), birds and mammals.

Trees next to watercourses also provide materials (branches and leaf litter) to the river system. These materials help to drive the aquatic food chain - as they support bacteria, fungi, and invertebrates, which in turn feed other invertebrates, fish (which helps to support sport fisheries), crayfish (also an invertebrate), birds and mammals.

Riverbank tree planting creates shade and reduces summer temperature which is beneficial for aquatic wildlife. This is because warmer water holds less dissolved oxygen, which the wildlife need. Trees also provide shelter and wildlife corridors connecting habitats and opportunities for wildlife to increase and move around.

Planting and establishing trees in the areas identified will provide opportunities for improving air and water quality. The benefits will be different though as planting trees in and around urban areas will have a greater improvement on air quality, especially for communities in those areas. Planting trees higher up in valleys will lead to water quality improvements through absorbing more water and reducing downstream flood risk. Riparian tree planting along the length of watercourses will provide opportunities to create shade for freshwater wildlife.

To sum all this up, this "right tree, right place" video from the RSPB in Haweswater is a good watch. Meet Lee Schofield, the Site Manager at Haweswater. Lee’s role involves overseeing conservation work across an upland mosaic of woodland, bog, mountain and meadow. In this 8 minute video other parts of the UK are shown, including agroforestry (fruit and nut trees) being planted. Even people with a garden space can make a contribution.

Below are eight case studies about the different kinds of woodland creation and tree establishment possibilities in Northumberland.

1. Rushy Knowe near Leaplish
2. Monkridge Hill farm near Kirkharle
3. An agroforestry case studies from the Woodland Trust - from Cannerheugh Farm in Cumbria
4. Agroforestry on upland farms from the Soil Association, and from Northumberland itself supported by the Woodland Trust
5. Kielderhead Wildwood
6. Blaze Beck upstream of Cockermouth - a riparian case study

Rushy Knowe case study

Rushy Knowe is a 145-hectare (360 acre) new woodland in Kielder Forest. Forestry England saw the opportunity to use an area of upland hill grazing land and decided to take it back from agricultural use to create new forest. The aim was to create a modern, well-designed, and commercially sustainable area of multi-purpose forest, for the benefit of people, for nature and for the economy. The peat guidance has changed since this site was planted.

Monkridge Hill Farm case study

Here is a video for a case study from Kirkharle. Woodland Officer Luke talks to Steve Ramshaw, owner of Monkridge Hill Farm, about his 100 hectare woodland creation project and the benefits that tree planting on his land has brought.

Monkridge Hill Farm is near the river Rede in mid Northumberland.

This video is 4 minutes long.

Cannerheugh Farm case study

The next case study, is from  Cannerheugh Farm - creating new hedgerows for livestock shelter in the Eden Valley in Cumbria . Farmers Paul and Nic Renison use mob grazing techniques to improve the productivity of their farm. They have been planting new trees, hedges and shelterbelts across their farm to increase shelter for their flock and to reduce lamb loss. The agroforestry planting will also be grazed by livestock and eventually also produce wood chip for bedding (willow or hazel).

They were first inspired back in 2014 after visiting Northumberland farmers at Thistleyhaugh Farm near Morpeth.

The Woodland Trust's woodland creation advisors have years of experience advising landowners on the benefits of trees. The Woodland Trust provide subsidised trees and independent advice and support to farmers interested in planting trees.

 Find out more about agroforestry on the Woodland Trust's website. 

 Or five other agroforestry / wood pasture / silvopoultry / silvoarable / silvohorticulture case studies on the agricology website.  

Cattle and trees ... they go really well together

Watch this video that includes the Highland cattle that graze at Druridge Bay to find out more, how cattle and trees go together.    Cattle and trees... they go really well together  (You Tube, opens in a new window).

This film shows how land managers can use existing woodland, including young-ish shelterbelts, for their livestock, and how the woodland also benefits. It was filmed at the Northumberland County Council site, Druridge Bay Country Park, where the site manager Danny has been experimenting with letting cattle use the woodland for shade and shelter.

The cows are clearly very content and love to be in the woodland, despite some of the misgivings of some staff that is was a good idea. Danny really stuck to his guns to make use of the woodland, and the cows have loved the respite from recent hot summers.

Wood pasture for livestock

This film  wood pasture for livestock  is a farmer's perspective on extending woodland pasture on farmland, focusing on Thistleyhaugh organic farm. It interviews Duncan Nelles, looking at why he wanted to add more wood pasture and how it was designed. There's also a snippet on constructing the dreaded cactus guard... On the day, Duncan's cows preferred sheltering from the rain in some of the mature wood pasture but they are already happily grazing amongst the young planting as it becomes established. 

Agroforestry on upland farms

Still on the topic of agroforestry - three upland farmers talk about the benefits of giving livestock access to trees and hedgerows, and why it is good for their animals, for soil health, for biodiversity and the farm's margins.  

Meet Andrew Barbour from Perthshire, Glansant Morgan from Pwllrhwyaid Farm in Wales and Freya Meredith from Dartmoor in Devon. The 11-minute video also includes FWAG SW and the Soil Association. Either click on the YouTube icon on the right here, or watch it from the  Soil Association website .

Agroforestry case studies in Northumberland

In and near Northumberalnd there are more agroforestry case studies that the Woodland Trust have supported - and we are working on making those case studies available.

• A wood pasture case study at  Middleton North farm . The landowner here has planted new woodland and hedges, and also 21 wood pasture cages each containint 6-7 species (one of which, like oak or lime, will eventually become a large, fully grown tree, with its canopy touching its neighbour!). And a further 23 wood pasture cages to be planted in the winter of 2022.

• A silvohorticultural case study just outside the Northumberland boundary at  Gibside Community Farm  (this link opens a 3-page pdf that shows the design of alley trees and shelterbelt, orchard / coppice and willow).

Agroforestry research project with Newcastle University

The Great Northumberland Forest team worked with Newcastle University on a study relating to agroforestry, together with partners including the National Farmers Union and the Woodland Trust.  Here is more information about their findings:  Agroforestry Study.  The good news is that farmers are willing to try agroforestry if it can be integrated into their farm business and managed for profit. However, the scientists found that agroforesty isn't well defined.  Also matching up farmers' ideas with funding and incentives isn't clear either.

Farmers were mostly interested in planting trees as part of a livestock-tree system, which requires a more solid evidence base around the benefits trees can provide to improve livestock health.  For example through providing additional food resources as well as protection from extreme climates.

Additionally, cost-effective methods that need to be put in place to protect the growing trees from livestock as well as wildlife including deer and hares would need to be trialled and explained in training workshops or on specialised demonstration sites for tree restoration on farmed land. Understanding what farmers need and want is an essential step towards creation of policies for increased tree numbers.  Agroforestry can be an integral part of integrated farm management, but the farming community is diverse and need flexible funding and tailored, accessible advice to encourage innovation. Based on their findings, the scientists recommend policy priority actions to increase the adoption of agroforestry:

The first step involves promoting knowledge of the different agroforestry types. The researchers recommend the creation of agroforestry demonstration farms and establishing a regional practitioner group to support farmers.

Second, is the need to integrate relevant government policies and increasing / maintaining funding for agroforestry as part of integrated farm management.

And third, to maximise the benefits of agroforestry, the researchers highlight the need for tailored and easily available advice for farmers using tools that build on current knowledge-exchange practices used by farmers.

See a 10 minute video by the Newcastle researcher about the project here (opens on canva).

Kielderhead Wildwood

Case study six is from the Kielderhead Wildwood project and how "wildness" is reflected in ecology, culture, history, and the arts. Find out more about how the project is creating native upland pine woodland above Kielder Forest. Hear about the historically significant Scots Pine. Speakers include conservationists from Northumberland and Cumbria as well as academics from across the board. The Wildlwood is a National Lottery Heritage Funded project.

Blaze Beck, Riparian case study

This case study is from Blaze Beck upstream of Cockermouth in Cumbria. Volunteers and West Cumbria Rivers Trust planted 2,500 trees along the banks of Blaze Beck. As they grow, the trees will help slow the flow of water, hopefully reducing flooding in the Cockermouth area. Also they will improve water quality by reducing the speed and erosion of the rain water coming from the fields. The trees will provide dappled shade to protect the fish, like salmon and trout.

Here are a set of real but anonymous examples from differnt types of farm around the county.  We will add more here as we go along.  Each one is just 1 side of A4.  For each site we have just experimented with the grants to see what the options would be worth in terms of farm income.  The actual location and the design would alter for each site - these are just meant to be illustrations.  Most importantly, the land manager's priorities for the site are key.  

Riparian tree planting on an arable farm

This farmer was struggling to harvest wheat and oil seed rape if there were heavy rains in summer.  Planting trees next to the streams may help.  We also modelled areas that might be wettest after heavy rains.  Under climate change these places may be increasingly difficult to get machinery on anyway.  Trees around stream banks help to prevent soil loss.  Also, the fish in the stream can benefit - as when the water is too hot it holds less dissolved oxygen.  Shading is good for the stream's ecosystem all around.  The best bits of fields are still under arable crop.   Open the A4 pdf by clicking on this text:  Riparian buffer illustration on an arable farm 

Ancient Woodland expansion zone

This is an arable farm with ancient woodland along the river and hedgerows between some of the fields.  Some of the field edges could be 'squared off' in line with the width of the tractor tramlines.  This would make some 'wild edges' where natural regeneration could take place.  Any new fences or gates could be funded.  Seeds from the ancient woodland could spread into this new area, but some small cluster plantings might also be needed to kick start this 'edge'.   Open the A4 pdf by clicking on this text:  Ancient Woodland expansion zone 

Shelterbelt on a mixed farm

This mixed farm already has some woods and hedges on the farm.  The farmer was interested in dividing one of the arable fields in two using a shelter belt about 30m wide.  It would be in two strips with a gate in the middle.  All the fencing and planting costs could be funded.  We know that shelterbelts can improve the farm business either by improving the soil when next to arable land, or for grazing by helping with animal health (especially at lambing time).  There is lots of different research and figures about this, so we would be happy to meet you and talk this through for your farm.   Open the A4 pdf by clicking on this text:  Shelterbelt on a mixed farm 

Wood pasture on a livestock farm

Wood pasture is an example of agroforestry where cattle can graze under woodland.  It is a low-maintenance way of combining trees, farming and nature.  The livestock have shelter and shade.  In due course there could be timber or woodfuel for the farmer.  The area needs to be grazed by preferably traditional cattle and a careful grazing plan followed.  Think of this option as "cattle under trees" rather than parkland / trees in protective cages - which is different! Open the A4 pdf by clicking on this text:  Wood pasture case study 

From 2022 onwards, the Great Northumberland Forest team (just one of the Woodland Creation Partners) has administered two grants through the  Nature for Climate fund . Below is a map of the locations where this capital investment has been agreed.

The heatmap shows the GNF "creation" fund in shades of green, and the "storm arwen restoration" fund in shades of orange. You can use the zoom to move in and out. The darker colours show more hectares, aggregated together).

The GNF creation fund is a bespoke one, for sites that don't fit with the national criteria, like the England Woodland Creation Offer (EWCO). The Storm Arwen fund is to restore small wind-blown woods after the storm in November 2021, and has also been very popular. You can find out more about both funds on the  Northumberland County Council website. 

The Storm Arwen fund closed to new applications in summer 2024, and the Creation fund will finish in March 2026. We will keep the map updated to reflect what is planted (rather than just agreed) up until mid-2026 - as the team complete their sign-off visits. The totals are about 87 ha of creation and 220 ha of storm arwen restoration.

The map here doesn't show all WCP partnership agreed sites / planted sites. We estimate the total of all the partnership tree planting comes to 2,545 hectares (over 6,000 acres) since 2019, plus over 11 million individual trees and hedge plants in smaller schemes. (More information about these wider statistics are on  our website , under "progress since 2019").

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