Woodland creation in Gateshead

Since declaring a climate emergency in 2019, Gateshead Council has committed to planting 100,000 new trees by 2030 and increasing woodland cover in the borough by 250 hectares by 2050. This will contribute towards our goal of carbon neutrality, play a vital role in mitigating and adapting to climate change, and provide a multitude of benefits for wildlife, flood mitigation, air quality, and health and wellbeing.

Our woodland creation work

Following the establishment of the North East Community Forest Partnership (opens new window) in 2021, the Council secured funding from DEFRA's Trees for Climate fund to undertake Whitehills woodland creation project. Supported by Living Woods North East CIC, volunteers and contractors planted over 14,000 trees on a reclaimed quarry site in the east of Gateshead.

Building on this success, the Council has delivered a further 15 woodland planting schemes between 2023 and 2025, funded through NECF, reaching a total of more than 50,000 new trees planted since the target was set.

In 2022 at locations across Gateshead, specimen trees were planted using funding from the Local Authority Treescapes Fund.

Also secured by this fund are the two "tiny forests" created in partnership with Earthwatch Europe, densely planted woods covering approximately the area of a tennis court, specially designed to fit into small urban spaces.

In partnership with the Royal Forestry Society, the Council has delivered a programme of tree planting and hedgerow creation in school grounds across Gateshead. During winter 24/25, over 2,300 trees were planted by children in school grounds. This programme will run through until spring 2026, with the opportunity for plenty more schools to get involved.