Tree-mendous news for Oldham

Hundreds of new trees will be planted at seven sites across Oldham. 

They will be planted in Oldham Edge, Holts Valley, Glodwick Lows, Medlock Vale, Diggle Fields, Twingates (Shaw) and the Irk Valley. 

It comes after funding was secured by Oldham Council and City of Trees from the Nature for Climate fund, in a push to help deliver the English portion of the government’s commitment to increase tree planting to 30,000 hectares per year, across the UK, by 2030.

More than £2 million is being invested in the Manchester city region. In Greater Manchester, 115 hectares of new planting will take place between now and the end of March.

The council say the trees being planted in Oldham will be mostly native species selected for their suitability to the site conditions, their ability to capture carbon and create new habitats for wildlife. The funding will also include long-term maintenance of any projects.

Councillor Barbara Brownridge, Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Culture, said: “This really is good news for Oldham and I’m delighted that the funding will deliver hundreds of new trees.

“Oldham already has some of the best countryside around and these new trees can only enhance the look of the borough.

“Coronavirus has highlighted the importance of being able to get out and get some fresh air close to where we live as it’s good for our mental and physical health. Trees play an important part in that as they are vitally important to our environment.

“They help in the battle against climate change and provide a massive boost to the air we breathe.

“This programme supports the council’s priority of working with residents, businesses and stakeholders to provide a greener and cleaner borough.

“It is also timely as Oldham, like areas across the country, is having to remove a lot of trees that have been killed by the disease Ash dieback. This programme will help replace many of those affected.”

The new wooded areas will add to the 1,850 trees that have been planted across the borough in the last few years. 

Seven hectares of new woodland has been created at sites such as Snipe Clough, Warwick Road Open Space, Plumpton Clough and Crompton Moor.

More than 650 new trees have also been planted in parks, cemeteries, open spaces and on highway verges.

City of Trees is a key partner in a new national programme called Trees for Climate, which is being delivered by the partnership of ten Community Forest organisations that span the country.

READ MORE: Tree planting proposals in Failsworth welcomed by councillor