Lancashire's biggest micro-wood is created in Colne

People from across the town of Colne have come together to create the largest ‘micro wood’ in the county.

Children from three local schools joined residents and councillors to plant around 3500 trees in a field adjacent to Thomas More Roman Catholic High School, creating a new habitat designed to have stunning views.

The newly-planted copse is set to create a mixed-purpose space for both wildlife and the local community, with unique sight lines during the summer and winter solstices.

Alongside these thousands of trees, new benches have also been erected around the micro wood, which also incorporates new spaces for future events and activities in Colne.

While this new green space in the town is the  largest of its kind in Lancashire, it is far from the only major planting project in the county.

Since 2023, when it was award a £1 million grant, almost 50,000 trees have been planted by Lancashire County Council across 42 of these micro woods. Every single one of them dug using a cutting edge technique called the Miyawaki method.

Named after the Japanese botanist who realised that replicating the environment of a mature forest causes trees to grow at a faster rate, this method involves digging one-meter holes and reinforcing the soil with local fungi and compost.

The trees are then planted closer together than usual, with shrubbery and other vegetation seeded at random to mimic a real forest. This helps the wood to grow faster and, importantly, lock up even more carbon.

Lancashire County Councillor Joshua Roberts (Reform UK, Fylde East) 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.”

The cabinet member for Rural Affairs, Environment and Communities added: “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.”