Blackburn with Darwen to get four woods to mark Coronation

The borough has been awarded almost £30,000 from a special fund to plant the trees.

The cash comes from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Coronation Living Heritage Fund, marking the crowning of King Charles last year.

The council has been given £14,558 to plant micro-woods in Blackburn and Darwen.

It has also been awarded £14,445 to plant community orchards, potentially in Blackburn's Corporation Park and Belmont village.

In a report to colleagues, Blackburn with Darwen Council's growth boss Cllr Quesir Mahmood said: "We have accepted the award of two grant allocations from Defra’s Coronation Living Heritage Fund, of £14,558 to plant micro-woods and £14,445 from to plant community orchards.

"The council has aspirations to plant 30,000 trees by 2030.

"The grant allocation will help with meeting the costs of this ambition, reducing pressure on the council’s resources and helping to make available resources go further.

Corporation Park is to get a community orchard

"The Coronation Living Heritage Fund was set up to support local tree planting initiatives to commemorate the King’s Coronation and provide an improved natural heritage to be enjoyed by future generations.

"£2.5 million was made available through Defra’s Nature for Climate Fund for local authorities in England to bid into for micro-wood and community orchard schemes.

"The fund is made up of two schemes: Coronation Micro-Woods to enable local authorities to plant miniature areas of woodland in urban areas and Coronation Community Orchards to provide grants to local people and groups to establish community orchards

"The council worked with the treescapes team at Lancashire County Council to prepare bids.

"It is anticipated that there will be two micro-woods in the Miyawaki-style (densely-planted trees in a space of around 10 to 20metres), one in Blackburn and one in Darwen, and at least two community orchards.

"Potential sites for community orchards include Corporation Park and Belmont village.

"The deadline for completion of all schemes is March 2025.

"Only one micro-wood scheme has to be completed in the 23/24 planting season.

"A site in Queen’s Park is being assessed for suitability for a micro-wood.

"The funding will cover 100 per cent of costs.

"Implementation of schemes will involve the community.

"The LCC treescapes team will assist with community engagement, raising awareness of the schemes, involving people in planting and encouraging involvement with future maintenance."