Wing Wood is a 51 hectare site that will provide a valuable habitat for wildlife, green spaces for local people, and a sustainable source of timber. There will be new wildlife ponds as well as ‘wet’ woodland to support species including Great Crested Newts. A community orchard will be created, as well as accessible paths for walking and cycling.
Thanks to the support of the BA Community Fund, the planting of 9,000 tress is now fully funded. However, we are fundraising for a wildflower meadow on the site, which you can find out more about and support here.
A brand-new woodland
Woodlands and forests bring significant benefits to the environment, sequestering carbon from the atmosphere, improving air quality and helping prevent soil erosion and flooding.
They also bring benefits to us, with time spent in nature making us physically healthier and improving our mental wellbeing by alleviating stress, stabilising blood pressure and even treating anxiety and depression.
Forestry England's Wing Wood will be planted with a range of broadleaf and conifer trees, focusing on oak and willow to encourage Purple Emperor Moths and butterfly species.
British Airways’ contribution to the appropriately named site will also cover ongoing care costs for the new saplings, ensuring each tree we plant survives and thrives long into the future.
Forests for everyone
For more than a century, Forestry England have been growing over 1,500 forests around England, caring for more land and trees than any other organisation in the country.
Forestry England's forests are for everyone, for this generation and the next. We’ve built over 1,800 miles of walking, running and cycling trails for people to find escape, seek adventure or relax. We plant millions of trees each year whilst ensuring our forests are productive, providing England’s largest supply of sustainably-sourced timber.
Forestry England's expertise allows us to do all this while also conserving thousands of plant and animal species. We care for some of the country’s most important habitats which are home to our rarest wildlife, as well as return missing species to our landscapes.
Forests are vital for the future of our planet, storing carbon, reducing flooding and improving our health and wellbeing. We are always thinking beyond today, planning and planting forests that will help create a sustainable future.
By supporting our planting at Wing Wood, the BA Community Fund is allowing us to do even more.
Want to find out how you can support us too? Read more on our wildflower meadow appeal here.