Rossendale Forest ask for volunteers for final planting sessions

Rossendale Council are asking for volunteers for the last push to plant the remaining 1000 trees of the Rossendale Forest initiative. 

Rossendale Forest, the council’s tree planting initiative to plant a tree for every child in the borough over the next three years- that’s 16,000 trees – has successfully planted more than 6,000 trees since the start of the year. However, there are another 1000 trees which have to be planted by the end of March before spring finally sets in 

Dave McChesney Green Spaces Manager at the council said: “The tree planting season only lasts from the end of October to the end of March, so we had a limited amount of time to plant our target of 6000 trees for this year. We have planted 6000 but we have another 1000 that we have to get in as soon as possible. 

“If we wait much longer the spring season will be in full swing and this risks the health of the tree whips.” 

Rossendale Forest is part of a raft of measures to help combat climate change, that the council announced last year when they declared a climate emergency in their climate report.  

Alyson Barnes, Council Leader, said: “The council takes climate change very seriously and we’re trying to do as much as we can to reduce our energy consumption and obtain as much as we can from renewable sources. 

“Rossendale Forest is such a great initiative and seems to have really struck a chord with people in Rossendale. We’ve had hundreds who signed up to Pledge to Plant, which is absolutely fantastic and we ‘re just asking for that last push to get this final batch of trees in before it’s too late.” 

“This is something that everyone no matter their age can get involved in. All the small things we do, when done collectively, make a much bigger impact and we hope Rossendale Forest will be a real legacy for generations to come.” 

The next planting sessions will begin this Saturday 19th March at Hawthorn Road, Bacup at 10am and people are being encouraged to just turn up  

Dave continued: “Tree planting is the perfect way to improve your local environment. Trees contribute to flood resistance, clean the air, lock up carbon and stabilise soils. They also look fantastic, and you’ll get to keep checking on their progress!  

“If you can help out please turn up to one of the sessions. We’d love to have a strong community presence to conclude our tree planting for this winter.” 

• Hawthorn Road, Bacup – Saturday 19th March – 10am  
•  Waingap Woods, Whitworth – Sunday 20th March – 10am  
• Turn Recreation Ground, Edenfield – Monday 21st March – 1.30pm  
•  Victoria Park, Haslingden  – Tuesday 22nd March – 1.30pm – 
• Maden Recreation Ground – Wednesday 23rd March – 1.30pm – 
• Peers Clough Farm, Peers Clough Road, Lumb, BB4 9NG (meet in front of farm house) – Saturday 26th March – 10am –