A significant green transformation is underway on the edge of Loughborough, as a major grant enables the creation of a brand new community woodland. Charnwood Borough Council has secured £172,000 in funding from The National Forest to plant approximately 7,000 trees across an 8.6-hectare site near Nanpantan Road Cemetery.
A Green Legacy for Future Generations
The ambitious project, set to begin this month, will see the two fields transformed into a thriving native broadleaf woodland. Species including oak, birch, ash, and rowan will be planted, creating a biodiverse habitat expected to take around 30 years to fully mature, with some trees reaching maturity within a decade. The council has collaborated with Forwoods Forestry and Woodland Consultancy to access the grant and manage the project.
Cllr Beverley Gray, the Council’s lead member for biodiversity, expressed her delight: "I am so pleased that we are able to begin work on creating a new woodland in Nanpantan. This woodland will be a great place for residents and visitors to get active and enjoy the outdoors for decades to come."
Enhancing Access and Biodiversity
The funding will cover not only the tree planting but also the creation of a new all-accessibility track, ensuring the space is open and welcoming to everyone. The location is strategically chosen, situated just over a mile from the popular Outwoods woodland, effectively expanding the green corridor for local wildlife and people.
"This project will mean that we have planted over 20,000 trees in the past four years," added Cllr Gray. "This helps increase biodiversity and encourages more people to enjoy our open spaces across the borough. We are thankful to The National Forest for the funding."
Community and Environmental Impact
Stuart Dainton, head of land management and estate at The National Forest, highlighted the collaborative value of the scheme: "It is great to be able to work with Charnwood Borough Council in creating a new woodland on the edge of Loughborough. This woodland will provide a hub for the people of Charnwood to meet with friends, family and explore the outdoors right on their doorstep."
This initiative follows the successful planting of the Hathern Community Woodland in 2022, which saw 14,000 trees planted across 15 acres. The new Nanpantan woodland represents a continued commitment from the council to environmental enhancement and providing quality green spaces for community health, wellbeing, and nature recovery for generations to come.
