As well as working closely with Morgan Sindall, the project was delivered in conjunction with independent not-for-profit organisation, Grown in Britain, and Cotswolds-based forestry company, Nicholsons.
This project represents the first woodlands that have been planted under the Forest Canopy Foundation (FCF) – a not-for-profit collaboration of private sector forestry companies who have joined forces to demonstrate technical rigour and quality in woodland creation.
The woodlands will capture over 22,000 tonnes of CO2 over the next 25 years, also includes the creation of a forest school, wildflower meadows, open spaces and more than 15km of linked public footpaths.
The tree species that have been chosen to be planted have been carefully selected – including Hornbeam, Lime, Sycamore, Wild Cherry, Oak, Norway Maple, Alder and Beech in the mixed woodlands.
There is also an understorey of woody shrub species including Hazel, Hawthorn, Viburnums, Euonymus and Dogwoods to create a diverse and self-sustaining eco-system. Experimental species have also been included to assess climate resilience and a small percentage of conifer planted to provide winter habitats for wildlife.
Our project will improve the biodiversity of the area significantly, including the quality of soil, air and biodiversity. It will also aim to set new standards for auditing and transparency, with changes to the air, water and soil monitored, and carbon levels tracked using state-of-the-art technology – including drones with Artificial Intelligence – to quantify environmental changes.
“This partnership with Morgan Sindall is a first for us and is incredibly exciting in terms of both scale and what it will deliver in improving our estate, the environment and opening up access to surrounding communities .... This will have a real and immediate impact on the Dorn Valley woodland at Blenheim, creating a ‘green corridor’ along the River Dorn which will prevent soil erosion into the world-famous Blenheim Great Lake.”
Roy Cox, Estates Director
Watch this video from Morgan Sindall which goes into more detail about the tree planting.
Our pathways map shows public paths and bridleways running through the Dorn Valley Woodland.
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