New partnership lays foundation for ambitious South Yorkshire tree-planting campaign

The collaboration between Sheffield City Region and the South Yorkshire Local Nature Partnership will produce a shared plan for tree planting, based on careful research to identify sites that provide the greatest benefits while avoiding valuable natural habitats of other kinds.

Dan Jarvis, Mayor of the Sheffield City Region, said: “This partnership provides a foundation for an ambitious programme to plant trees and create woodland both in and around our city, towns and villages in South Yorkshire. That work will help us to fulfil our commitment to tackle the climate crisis, protect our wildlife, and reduce the risk of more devastating floods like we saw last year. But it will also help our economy and create jobs at a time of massive economic disruption, give more people access to nature, and green our streets – improving the quality of life for our communities in ways big and small.”

The Sheffield City Region Mayoral Combined Authority declared a climate emergency in November 2019, and in January published a framework setting out a roadmap to net zero carbon emissions by 2040, ten years ahead of the UK government’s target. That framework included a commitment to support the growth of the Northern Forest, which aims to see at least 50 million new trees established over the next 25 years.

Liz Ballard, Chair of the South Yorkshire Local Nature Partnership and CEO of Sheffield and Rotherham Wildlife Trust, said: “Our shared ambition is to see millions of trees planted all over South Yorkshire, linking us into wider projects like the Northern Forest and helping reduce the terrible threat posed by climate change. The support of the Mayor has been crucial in getting us this far – and with this partnership we can now do so much more to make that vision a reality. This is a really important step forward.”

The partnership will also help deliver on the plan it draws up, engaging with community groups and individual landowners and raising funding to accelerate tree-planting. A South Yorkshire Woodland Creation Officer will be funded by the partners with additional support from the Woodland Trust.

“I want to empower neighbourhood groups to identify sites, get trees in the ground, and make their communities better, greener places to live,” Mayor Jarvis said. “We should be ambitious about this programme, because it can do so much good. Planting trees will leave a legacy for future generations, but it will also help tackle the problems we face here and now, as we build a stronger, greener, and fairer South Yorkshire.”

To support the project, the Partnership is recruiting for a Woodland Creation Officer who will spearhead the work across South Yorkshire. The successful applicant will support, co-ordinate and accelerate woodland creation in the region. Their work will help to increase carbon capture, improve natural flood risk management, support nature’s recovery and the green economy and promote the health & wellbeing of local people. 

The post is funded by the Sheffield City Region Mayoral Combined Authority and the Woodland Trust. Nick Sellwood, Woodland Trust Project Manager for the Northern Forest, said:

“We are very pleased that Mayor Dan Jarvis is supporting this role and look forward to working with the Sheffield City Region towards a greener future for South Yorkshire.

“Our woodland and green spaces must be valued, enhanced and protected. They make a huge contribution to our sense of place, can help in the fight against the climate emergency, encourage nature recovery, reduce flooding and improve quality of life for all. By working with the Mayor we are putting woodlands and the wildlife they attract at the heart of decision making and paving the way for a more sustainable future for us all.”

For more details, visit www.wildsheffield.com/sylnp.

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