By Eliza Ainley
Leeds City Council has published detailed proposals for its Woodland Creation 2026 programme across West Leeds.
The plans outline where new trees and small woodland blocks may be introduced in council-owned pockets of land.
In Inner West, the largest single planting proposal is located in Bramley Park, where more than a thousand whips are planned across several shaped woodland compartments along the northern edge of the site. The aim appears to be to strengthen the park’s margins and create new pockets of habitat.
Bramley resident Keely Bannister said: “This would be a totally new area of planting in a park where younger people set fires and cause damage. A better area would be near the tennis courts to expand the woodland already there.
“The larger trees that were planted off Rossefield Grove under the woodland creation scheme previously have been damaged. There are issues with anti-social behaviour in this area too and I believe the whips will be damaged.”
Other Inner West sites include Burley Park, where 24 specimen trees are proposed across the central grassed areas, and Elida Gibbs Park, where eight trees would be added along the northern boundary.
The Elida Gibbs site is proving controversial. A resident living near the park observed: “I am very much against further planting of trees here, We already suffer from light deprivation due to the shadows cast by the existing trees. In fact a number of us have already asked for the height of the existing trees to be lowered.”
In Outer West, four sites have been identified. Chatsworth Recreation Ground in Pudsey is set to receive a compact woodland block of more than 180 whips in one corner of the field.
Clover Court and Swinnow Walk, both residential greens, are proposed for small numbers of specimen trees positioned within the central lawn areas. Western Flatts Cliff Park in Wortley would receive 22 trees distributed across its open grassland.
These sites seem to have been selected based on available space, existing use and service constraints.
Kathy Shaw’s family has lived in Pudsey for generations: “Where we live there is a wildlife corridor which connects Post Hill to Fulneck Valley.
“It’s an area continually under threat from housing and other development but these are important sites for local habitats and 1000 trees here would make a real impact on things like natural flood management.”
The council’s consultation remains open, and residents in Inner West and Outer West are encouraged to review the maps, consider the proposed locations and submit feedback on how the planting could best support local needs.
Full details of the Woodland Creation 2026 proposals, including site maps and planting specifications, are available through the council’s consultation portal here.
Sponsored content
If the place is not intended for excessive public use, I suggest the exploration of a maximum BNG (Biodiversity Net Gain) approach of the area. This will involve various trees and plants introduction etc. I will not go into details but together with restoring the natural status of the area, the council will also start gaining immediately carbon offsetting credits that can be used on future projects, in oppose to the simple woodland that credits start gaining after a decade give or take, not to mention that simply more trees do not guarantee elevation of the natural environment of the area.
Well like the vast majority of these well intentioned schemes their will be no aftercare or maintenance budget so 90% of them will die which is a collosal waste of money. Unless schemes are supported by locals willing to do that upkeep schemes like this are largely unsuccessful.
( Both Look North and Calendar had reports yesterday about the massive planting on new road on Bluberhouses moor….. most of them looked dead already and road not open yet!,)
I agree in New Farnley most of the trees have protection orders on them they have nil maintenance and when the fall down unless it’s on a road they are left blocking pathways/rights of way etc