Lancashire's biggest micro-wood is created in Colne

Members of the community attended a recent planting event by global sustainability charity, the Voice for Nature Foundation, with partners including Lancashire County Council, to create the new 'ReWild Yourself Community Hub' in Pendle.

Residents, students from three local schools and Councillors came together to plant 3,500 trees on the field next to SS John Fisher and Thomas More Roman Catholic High School. They created a thriving green space for people and wildlife, which also incorporates open spaces for community activities and benches for relaxing.

The unique way that the trees have been planted allows for sunrise and sunset views across the hub during summer and winter solstices.

Since 2023, Lancashire County Council has planted almost 50,000 trees in 42 micro-woods across the county. These were all planted using Japanese botanist Dr Akira Miyawaki's unique tree planting technique, which involves enhancing the soil and planting trees closer together, resulting in faster growth than traditional techniques. It also means that carbon is absorbed more quickly.

Lancashire County Councillor Joshua Roberts, cabinet member for Rural Affairs, Environment and Communities, and members of the council's Treescapes team, attended the official opening of the new Hub and helped to plant some of the trees.

County Councillor Joshua Roberts said:

“I have taken part in several planting sessions using the fast-growing Miyawaki method in Lancashire. By helping to plant some of these 3,000 trees here, we’ve helped to create a thriving new woodland that will boost biodiversity, improve air quality and bring nature back into the heart of the community.

"Using native species like oak, birch and field maple, this new woodland will not only boost wildlife but also improve air quality and create a greener future for the area.”

Katie McLaurin, Managing Director at Voice for Nature said:

“This is about more than planting trees. It’s about growing a living space where people and nature can thrive together – a legacy of well-being, connection, and care for our environment and communities."