Ushaw Historic House

New woodland areas, equivalent in size to around 21 football pitches were created at Ushaw Historic House, Chapels & Gardens, which sits in the heart of the County Durham countryside.

Land Ownership – Charity

Project TimelinePlanted March 2024

Features Implemented 

Gross woodland area – 15.44 ha  

Community Engagement 

Volunteers from the local community helped plant the trees, and a competition was held to name the woodland – Avery Woods. See media. 

Project Impact 

The team at Ushaw ran several community engagement dates throughout March 2024, and have involved people in woodland maintenance with the goal that they can learn about the establishment of woodland and be part of a sustainable future.

Design & Approach 

The Durham Woodland Revival project worked with Ushaw from the beginning to assess their existing woodlands and to organise the new 15-hectare (37 acre) woodland planting scheme. 

Partnerships 

Community, Tilhill Forestry (contractor). 

Support from Durham County Council’s Durham Woodland Revival (DWR) project, Natural England and the Forestry Commission. 

Funding 

North East Community Forest via the Trees for Climate grant 

Key Stats 

  • Establishment of gross woodland area totalling 15.44ha (100%) 
  • Establishment of net woodland area 12.82ha (83%) 
  • Total open space C.2.62 (17%) 
  • Total trees C.24524 
  • xx volunteers 
  • xx hours of volunteer time 

Quotes 

Ady Davis, Garden and Grounds Co-Ordinator at Ushaw, said: “Ushaw is delighted, after years of planning, to start planting our new woodland areas. 

“As well as improving the biodiversity of our estate, we are also intending to engage local communities with not only the planting of woodland but their maintenance and management” 

Media 

BBC News article 

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