A NEW 350 hectare forest will be the largest planned productive woodland to be planted in England in the last 25 years.

The project at Doddington North, near Wooler in Northumberland, is being launched on Friday.

It will cover around 350 hectares, with 268 hectares to be planted with a combination of conifer, native broadleaves and Scots pine, and will also have footpaths, bridleways and water courses.

Durham-based green energy company Forest Carbon is supporting the venture by investing in the carbon dioxide captured by the forest, estimated at around 92,670 tonnes over 65 years.

The company, which has developed 135 new woodlands around the UK, offers businesses interested in reducing their carbon footprint by offering the chance to buy "carbon credits" .

Stephen Prior, from Forest Carbon, said: "Forest Carbon is the UK leader in this field and I am pleased to say that the work we do with our partners is becoming more central to government thinking, with a UK carbon offset programme highlighted in its recently published 25 Year Environment Plan.

"New woodlands can play an important role such a scheme – providing as they do cost effective carbon emissions reductions alongside so many other benefits.”

Doddington North will help ensure a sustainable supply of wood for construction and other uses.