Diamond Jubilee coup for Dewsbury and Kirklees

The Woodland Trust and Kirklees Council say the woods will be in Dewsbury Country Park and cover at least 60 acres – equivalent to 1.5 times the size of Buckingham Palace’s grounds – to symbolise 60 years of The Queen’s reign.

Dewsbury Country Park will be a 50 hectare site which runs along the bottom of Dewsbury Moor, from Scout Hill, skirting Ravensthorpe, and up to the Heckmondwike border.

Trees will start being planted on site this autumn. The Trust is also launching a public appeal to raise £60,000 towards the £700,000 needed to create more than 900 acres of native woodland and involve over 100,000 children in planting trees for the Jubilee across Yorkshire.

Woodland Trust Jubilee Woods director Georgina McLeod, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that Kirklees Council has joined with the Trust create a Diamond Wood. It will help make a massive difference to the environment and pay a special tribute to Her Majesty The Queen.”

Coun Cathy Scott, Cabinet member for Investment and Regeneration, added: “It is tremendous news for Dewsbury, and also the whole of Kirklees, that we will be welcoming a new, large scale and highly attractive green space. This will be a fantastic asset to the area and a place for all members of the community to enjoy the fresh air and outdoors.

“ Alongside the Woodland Trust, we worked extremely hard to make this happen and it’s a real coup for the area that Dewsbury has been selected. The Diamond Wood is also a legacy for future generations. I have no doubt that people in and around Dewsbury will get behind this exciting project and will play a full part in the tree planting as it gets under way later this year.”