A NEW area of woodland, the size of five football pitches and planted by a Culcheth couple will provide excellent habitats for wildlife.
The trees planted by Tony and Rebecca Unsworth at Ratcliffe House Farm will also eventually provide a source of renewable wood fuel for the farmhouse.
The Unsworths received support from the Mersey Forest to help make their woodland a reality.
Mersey Forest experts advised on the choice of tree species and helped the couple secure a Forestry Commission grant.
Warrington North MP Helen Jones also took an interest in the project.
She said: “This is another example of how Warrington benefits from being part of The Mersey Forest, and is great long-term thinking from the owners to provide a fuel for their farmhouse in the future.”
Rebecca Unsworth said: “The woodland will be harvested using a technique known as coppicing every 10 to 12 years to provide a continual supply of wood for the fire.
“It’s great to be able to plan ahead, and the support we’ve received to make it happen has been excellent.”
More details about The Mersey Forest – a network of woodlands across the region – can be found by visiting the website www.merseyforest.org.uk or calling 01925 816217.
Pictured, left to right, are Helen Jones, landowners Rebecca and Tony and Chris Gibbard from The Mersey Forest.
