The Woodland Trust has launched a national appeal to raise £4.86 million to secure more land at Snaizeholme Valley near Hawes, in a move that could create the charity’s largest site in England.
The conservation charity is seeking to acquire a further 141 hectares of neighbouring land, including two large blocks of commercial conifer plantation and an area of hillside linking land already under its ownership.
If successful, the expansion would increase the size of the Snaizeholme project to more than 700 hectares.
The appeal builds on extensive habitat restoration work already underway in the valley, where the Trust has been carrying out large-scale native woodland planting and peatland restoration since 2023.
Almost 300 hectares of habitat restoration and tree planting has already taken place across the site, alongside work to restore 109 hectares of upland peat bog to improve biodiversity, support wildlife and increase carbon storage.
Woodland Trust said the new phase of the project would allow habitats to become more connected and resilient.
Site manager Alec Pue said: “This next phase gives us a fantastic opportunity to scale up the work already achieved at Snaizeholme.
“By bringing this land together, we can create a more connected, resilient landscape where native woodland, open habitats and wildlife can recover side by side.”
The land has already been purchased on behalf of the Trust by what the charity described as a “sympathetic organisation”, giving the Woodland Trust two years to raise the funds required to bring the land permanently under its care.
If the fundraising target is not met, the land will be placed back on the open market.
The project has been widely recognised as one of the most significant nature recovery schemes in the Yorkshire Dales area, with restoration work designed to support declining species including red squirrels, improve habitats and contribute towards natural flood management.
Dr Darren Moorcroft, chief executive of the Woodland Trust, said: “It’s no exaggeration that Snaizeholme will be a model for the whole of the English uplands, demonstrating excellence in woodland creation alongside the restoration of other habitats for nature recovery.”
Tree planting at Snaizeholme has been supported through the White Rose Forest, the community forest for North and West Yorkshire, using funding from the UK Government’s Trees for Climate programme.
The funding has supported tree planting, site infrastructure and ongoing maintenance work as part of wider efforts to improve biodiversity and help reduce flood risk in Yorkshire catchments.
Further information about the appeal, including how to donate, is available through the Woodland Trust appeal page.
