Thousands of trees planted to create wildlife hub in Carlisle

Raise: Cumbria Community Forest has been working with Electricity North West to plant more than 11,000 trees on their land at Sandsfield Road and Burgh Road in Carlisle.

The power network operator carried out the work as part of its commitment to plant 10,000 trees each year throughout the North West, until 2028.

Work has now been completed and local residents will start to benefit from richer and more diverse wildlife, cleaner air, reduced flood risk, stronger climate resilience and visual improvements.

Paul Killilea, Electricity North West’s Asset and Investment Director said: “As the region’s power network operator, we have a big role to play in providing the infrastructure to power electric cars and electric heating to reduce carbon emissions. We’re always looking at different ways to improve the environment and offset carbon emissions and planting thousands of trees is a great contribution.”

Electricity North West worked closely with Raise on the installation and planting scheme which has seen trees planted in a mosaic design that incorporates wood pasture, scrub, hedgerows, and traditional woodland.

Richard Mosson, Electricity North West’s Biodiversity Manager added: “We’re all delighted with the outcome of the tree planting scheme. It looks fantastic and will undoubtedly deliver huge benefits to the community."

Sixteen Electricity North West colleagues supported the project, using volunteering days to help plant a hedgerow and 900 trees.

James Cobbold, Director at Raise: Cumbria Community Forest added, “This was a fantastic example of how Raise Cumbria can support landowners to plant trees and woodland in a sustainable and sympathetic way on unusual sites. It’s never been more important to plant trees in support of addressing the climate emergency, increasing biodiversity, and improving health and wellbeing. We are delighted to be able to support leading organisations like Electricity North West to engage in this way.”