Selby woodland scheme moves forward (From York Press)

Selby woodland scheme moves forward

9:38am Saturday 18th February 2012 in Selby & Tadcaster By Dan Bean, dan.bean@thepress.co.uk

A SCHEME to create new woodland in Selby and increase the natural habitat available to wildlife has started to take shape.

The Selby Community Trust started the project last year, with the aim to use seven-and-a-half acres of land in Bondgate to create a new swathe of woodland for the town.

Coun Steve Shaw-Wright said: “The paths are down and some nice natural seating is in there too.

“So far, we’ve planted almost 5,000 trees with the help of various grants and donations from the Woodland Trust and other groups. We’ve secured just under £50,000 in the last week to employ Yorkshire artist Alisa Magnus to work on some sculptures to go in the woodland, and she’s going to be working with local schools to design them.”

Schoolchildren from the town have also helped in to plant the trees. Pupils from Selby Abbey County Primary School, Selby Community Primary School and Selby High School visited the woods in November.

Coun Shaw-Wright said the woodland would probably host some public events later this summer, to coincide with the unveiling of the sculptures.

“Some of the sculptures are going to be large insects. Hopefully some will be available during National Insect Week between June 23 and July 1, including a central totem of some sort.

“We’re also going to work with Stockbridge Technology Centre to block off a part of the area to be a wildlife viewing area, which we’re very enthusiastic about.

“During Insect Week, we’ll make the field available to have people come along and do some activities, bug hunts, surveying the insects, that kind of thing.

“It will be a nice small hive of activity, and we hope it will all encourage more wildlife right up the foodchain.”