I want to make a call for action to create a new woodland around my home village of Haydon Bridge.

Residents of Haydon parish face significant choices and opportunities in the next few months as the parish council draws up and consults on the 10 year plan for the community.

I hope that landowners in the area will be open to the idea of a partnership with the community to plant up areas of less productive grazing and land adjacent to watercourses that feed into the South Tyne.

Widespread planned planting of native species trees will reduce the very real risk of flooding my neighbours face as the climate events become more extreme.

Widespread planting would also significantly enhance biodiversity locally at a time when many native plants and wild animals are facing rapid decline nationwide.

Developing a community woodland around the parish could also build on the very good work already done by some local farmers and landowners while securing the future of family farms as government funding for agriculture shifts from food production to environmental protection.

Finally, our community could come together to do something positive to help tackle climate change. Less fretting and more action.

Who will pay for all this?

The county council has already promised to give every household a tree to plant so lets take up that offer as a community and make a start by planting those trees in a planned and rational manner.

I know there are many people in the area who would be willing to volunteer to plant trees and I am sure the schools would get involved.

Also, the parish council is committed to protecting and enhancing the environment.

With its leadership and endorsement access to government and charitable funds, this would be forthcoming.

This is already starting to be been done across the country.

If you live in Haydon parish, please contact your parish councillors and let them know you support this proposal.

Lets get on with it in Haydon Bridge!

DON PRICE

Haydon Bridge