(Image: Supplied)
Plans for England’s largest productive mixed forest in more than 40 years can move ahead in County Durham after the High Court dismissed a legal challenge.
Greencroft Forest Park will bring 600,000 trees to nearly 300 hectares of the historic Greencroft estate near Lanchester.
The North East Community Forest backs the project, which is being delivered by True North Real Asset Partners Limited.
Greencroft Forest Park: Land earmarked for England's 'largest commercial forest to Be planted in decades' (Image: Supplied)
Harry Humble, chief executive of True North, said: "We are delighted to have secured support and funding from the North East Community Forest and that forest planting can finally get underway.
"It is a historic moment for the county.
"This has been a complex, costly and time-consuming development, and we are excited to finally get trees into the ground and create a forest that local people can enjoy for decades to come."
The forest will contain 31 tree species, including broadleaves such as oak, birch, willow and hornbeam, alongside conifers including Sitka spruce, Scots pine and yew.
Greencroft Forest Park: Land earmarked for England's 'largest commercial forest to Be planted in decades' (Image: Supplied)
Productive conifers will cover 198 hectares, with Sitka spruce making up 60 per cent of the forest.
The scheme also includes 45 hectares of broadleaf woodland and 46 hectares of open ground.
The open areas will support grassland, wildflowers and other species, boosting biodiversity and creating habitats for more wildlife.
The woodland is expected to produce more than 110,000 tonnes of sustainably grown timber by 2046.
It will also help meet the UK’s growing demand for timber in construction and industry.
The forest is expected to absorb more than 67,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide in its first 100 years.
The forest is also expected to reduce flood risk around Lanchester by lowering river levels by up to 10 per cent.
Some 37 acres of wet woodland will be planted around flood-prone areas near Newhouse and Smallhope Burns.
Historic drains will be removed to slow water flowing into Newhouse Burn and improve flood resilience.
As the trees mature, their roots will absorb more rainwater and reduce runoff.
The project will add 5.7km of accessible paths for wheelchair users and pushchairs.
The paths will link to existing public rights of way and follow the site’s gradients.
Information boards at the entrance will help visitors explore the forest.
Ground preparation will begin shortly, with Cumbrian contractors using specialist equipment to build half-metre-high planting mounds.
Fencing will protect young trees from deer. Preparation should take less than a month, depending on the weather.
Planting will begin in mid to late October and finish by the end of the season in April 2027.
True North expects to plant all the trees before Christmas 2026.
A Juniper Forestry team from Chopwell will plant the saplings by hand, targeting around 16,000 trees a day.
Trees Please in Corbridge will supply most of the 20–40cm saplings.
Living Woods CIC and the NECF will run community planting and aftercare sessions.
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Residents, schools and community groups will help plant and care for the woodland through the sessions.
Lloyd Jones, forest manager at the North East Community Forest, said: "We are proud to be supporting this project, which will help to build sustainable resources for future generations while enriching the environment for the current community.
"By balancing productive timber resources with native habitats and community spaces, this new project will help create a diverse, environmentally resilient resource for the local area."