Howden Community Woodland
A new Community Woodland for Howden – have
your say
Howden Town Council is considering purchasing a small area of farmland, approx. 13.5 acres, alongside the Howden Marsh Local Nature Reserve to establish a new community woodland and open space for residents in Howden. This would be an extension to Howden Marsh Local Nature Reserve (LNR) and could consist of new woodland and scrub areas, wildflower meadow, rides, wetland, and open spaces.
All funding for the establishment of this new community woodland will come from donations and grants.
Community woodlands are special places which provide open access for the local community to participate and engage with nature close to where they live. Howden Community Woodland will be interactive, with recreational and educational activities and amenities for the local community to get involved with and will be open for all to enjoy.
Over the last few years access to local open spaces and the countryside has been a lifeline for many people and as more and more houses are built and businesses established in Howden there is an ever-increasing need for more open space and access to nature.
Howden Town Council are working with the support of Humber Forest on this exciting project.
We need your support, so have your say!
Click here to complete the short questionnaire (link to eryc.link/Howden-Community-Woodland (please copy and paste this link into your address bar)
Why is a community woodland important to Howden?
Improve biodiversity
A new community woodland will increase the biodiversity and wildlife habitats in the area, improving habitats for our native birds, mammals, and flora. It will also link to other important sites for nature including Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), a Local Nature Reserve (LNR) and UK priority habitats. The chosen site is within Natural England’s Network Enhancement Zone – meaning it is an ideal location for connecting existing habitats together, providing a larger area for wildlife to flourish.
Provide clean air and reduce pollution
Pollution affects everyone, but is particularly dangerous for unborn babies, toddlers, the elderly and people with long-term health conditions. Trees clean the air, cool the temperature, quieten the noise and lighten your mood.
Improve community health and well-being
Expanding natural green spaces in Howden will directly benefit community health and well-being. One in four people will be affected by mental illness at some point during their lifetime. Spending time in nature alleviates stress, stabilises blood pressure and treats anxiety and depression. Its effects have even been shown to increase anti-cancer cells, reduce the incidence of underweight births, and accelerate recovery from surgery.
Help tackle climate change
Climate change is a very real issue. Trees are the ultimate carbon capture and storage machines. Like great carbon sinks, woods and forests absorb atmospheric carbon and lock it up for centuries. They do this through photosynthesis. Along with trees, meadows and wetlands play a vital role in capturing and storing carbon, helping to contribute towards net zero targets. In fact the entire woodland ecosystem plays a huge role in locking up carbon, including the living wood, roots, leaves, deadwood, surrounding soils and its associated vegetation.
Reduce local flood risk
Trees intercept rainfall before it reaches the ground and soak up rainfall before it reaches surrounding urban areas. The existing Howden Marsh Nature Reserve acts as a natural flood storage area, protecting local housing. The new community woodland would provide a larger flood storage area.
Improve local recreation and engagement
Woodlands are important places for the community to use daily for recreation and leisure. Whether that be people walking their dogs; running or cycling or safe spaces to play with their children, a new community woodland would provide a larger natural space to undertake these activities close to home.
Why get involved?
There will be many opportunities for the local community to get involved and participate in the creation, management and long-term usage of the community woodland, including the planting of over 6,000 trees!