NATIVE trees, including oak, beech and ash, are to be planted in the North York Moors National Park to enhance wildlife and replace high-density pine forests.

Commondale will have hundreds of trees planted in clumps over 20 acres. Fencing and gates are needed, some of which run near rights of way.

The scheme involves landowner Lord Gisborough, the national park authority and Forestry Commission, Danby Group Parish Council heard at its latest meeting

One councillor said it was a non-commercial scheme while another believed it could eventually boost the local pheasant-shooting business.

Commondale Coun Geoff Banner recently met representatives of the parties involved and he gave an update about the scheme.

"I met the fence contractor and Lord Gisborough. They are putting in native woodland trees rather than pines, which will be planted along the valleys to create wildlife corridors."

The national park authority may provide some funding.

"There were three main concerns which we talked about. These were tree felling, fencing and footpaths.

"Felling the old plantation must be done outside the nesting season, because of woodcock.

"Fencing with netting is necessary for the trees. It will go up by the end of March. There will be a kissing gate and other gates. We tried to keep fencing away from the footpath and tried to get an undertaking that fencing would not be there when the trees are established. But they couldn't do that because that stage is ten or 15 years away."

Four hundred trees would be planted per hectare (2 acres), over 20-acres of land.

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