A new woodland is being created at Kielder Forest as part of a project involving a conservation charity.

Northumberland Wildlife Trust’s Kielderhead Wildwood Team has planted trees at Scaup Burn on the northern edge of Kielder Forest as part of the five-year-long Kielderhead Wildwood Project.

After no tree planting took place during last year’s planting season due to travel restrictions and a reduced number of volunteers, 4,000 silver birch trees needed to be planted as part of a diverse species mix to create a new upland pine woodland at Scaup Burn on the northern edge of Kielder Forest.

Graham Holyoak, Wildwood Project Co-ordinator, said: “Kielderhead Wildwood is being planted with native species such as silver and downy birch, holly, bird cherry, alder as well as others, creating a healthy, low density upland woodland.

“This allows pockets of trees to establish, with glades and more open spaces to promote a rich understory for wildlife to thrive. Planting trees along the Scaup Burn here will help to restore natural processes and rebuild healthy ecosystems – linked with both carbon storage and improving water quality.”