New woodland the size of 46 football pitches to be planted

A HUGE new woodland is to planted on grazing land southwest of Blaydon, after Gateshead Council was awarded funding for the project.

- By SAM VOLPE

The money comes from the Trees for Climate programme, backed by the North East Community Forest and funded by the Government's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

The trees will be planted on a site at Garesfield Lane, between Winlaton and Rowlands Gill.

This land - currently used for grazing - became available as part of a land sale, it also contains some ancient woodland which has been on the site for hundreds of years.

An existing public right of way on the land will be maintained, while the council said more paths would be added, too.

The council is looking to create an area that has around 50,000 trees across 33 hectares, an area roughly equivalent to 46 football pitches.