CARBON-BUSTING TREE SCHEME TAKES ROOT AT CLITHEROE CASTLE

Two greenhouse-gas-gobbling ‘golden groves’ of five redwood trees each were planted at Edisford in Clitheroe and St John’s Playing Fields in Longridge to commemorate the council’s landmark anniversary last year.

And a further 40 redwoods are in the process of being planted at parishes throughout the borough.

The latest redwood has just been planted near the main gates of Clitheroe Castle by Ribble Valley Mayor Louise Edge, who has also hosted one of the trees at her Clayton-le-Dale farm.

And further redwood plantings are on the cards over the coming weeks at publicly-visual sites at the Huntroyde Estate, Simonstone Hall and Forest of Bowland.

Giant redwoods are the tallest living thing on earth capable of storing hundreds of tonnes of carbon through ‘sequestration’, the process by which trees capture and store carbon in their roots and branches.

One giant redwood can store more carbon than a hectare of woodland and 250 times more than the average tree.

The RVBC50 ‘redwood lungs’ are expected to bust the entire lifetime’s carbon footprint of around 50 residents.

Ribble Valley Mayor Louise Edge said: “Giant redwoods have an incredible ability to soak up and store carbon, and a crucial role to play in tackling climate change.

“Redwoods exude great presence, giving a sense that you are meeting one of nature’s wonders, and we are delighted to be part of a commemorative move to preserve, celebrate and utilise these majestic trees.”

Giant redwoods are thriving in the UK, which has a similar cool and wet climate to their native home in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

Parish councils in Ribble Valley interested in planting one of the remaining redwoods are asked to contact Ribble Valley Borough Council’s countryside officer David Hewitt on 01200 425111 or 07725 602744 without delay.

Pic cap: CARBON BUSTERS – Ribble Valley Mayor Louise Edge and the borough council’s countryside officer, David Hewitt, has planted the latest RVBC50 redwood at Clitheroe Castle.

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Date: January 8 2025.

Further details for the media are available from Ribble Valley Borough Council’s communications unit on 01200 414483 or pressoffice@ribblevalley.gov.uk.