The planting of 7,000 trees to create a new woodland in Nanpantan, Loughborough, has been successfully completed. Charnwood Borough Council carried out the tree planting on the 8.6-hectare site, located near Nanpantan Road Cemetery.
Council Leader Praises New Woodland
Councillor Beverley Gray, lead member for biodiversity and climate action, expressed her delight at the achievement. "I am delighted that 7,000 trees have been planted in Nanpantan to create this wonderful new woodland. This will grow into a fantastic place for residents and visitors to come to and enjoy the outdoors for many years to come," she said.
With this planting completed, more than 20,000 saplings have been planted across Charnwood in the past four years. This effort is helping to increase biodiversity in the area and is expected to encourage more people to get active and enjoy open spaces. Councillor Gray thanked the National Forest for providing the funding, which played a crucial role in creating the woodland.
Funding and Accessibility
The creation of the new woodland, along with an all-accessibility track, cost £170,000. This was funded through a grant from the National Forest. The tree planting took place in March.
Stuart Dainton, head of land management and estate at the National Forest, highlighted the significance of the project. "This new woodland is an important addition to the wider National Forest, helping to connect habitats and improve the resilience of the landscape. Establishing trees is just the first step, and over time, this site will mature into a rich, diverse space for people and nature. We're proud to have supported its creation in partnership with Charnwood Borough Council," he said.
Tree Species and Future Plans
The tree saplings planted are a combination of native broadleaf species, including oak, birch, ash, and rowan. The Mayor of Charnwood, Councillor David Northage, attended the site and helped plant a tree at the new woodland.
The council will replace any trees that do not survive for the first five years. The tree guards and stakes currently surrounding each sapling will be removed and fully recycled once the trees are established. The trees have been planted at a set density in rows. Woodland thinning is expected to take place around 15 years after planting, which will make the woodland look less uniform.
Previous Community Woodland
A community woodland was planted in Hathern in 2022. The Hathern Community Woodland was the largest tree planting project the council has carried out, with 14,000 trees planted across the 15-acre site.
