Science

Trees delivered as part of Mail's campaign to boost UK's greenery will be lifeline for red squirrels


Thousands of trees delivered to a forest as part of Mail’s campaign to boost UK’s greenery will be a lifeline for red squirrels, experts say

  • Red squirrels and pine martens are set to benefit from the 20,000 new trees
  • Norway spruce seedlings to be planted where larch trees killed by fungal disease
  • Just 13 per cent of the UK is currently covered in forest although this is set to rise

Red squirrels and pine martens are set to benefit from 20,000 trees delivered to a forest by the Daily Mail’s Be A Tree Angel campaign.

The Norway spruce seedlings will be added to woodland where hundreds of larch trees have been killed by a fungal disease.

They are being planted at Auchentorlie Forest in central Scotland, having been donated by the Mail’s campaign, which together with The Tree Council is urging readers to plant trees, and businesses to pledge money towards orchards for schools. 

Red squirrels and pine martens are set to benefit from 20,000 trees delivered to a forest by the Daily Mail's Be A Tree Angel campaign

Red squirrels and pine martens are set to benefit from 20,000 trees delivered to a forest by the Daily Mail’s Be A Tree Angel campaign

At Auchentorlie, the Norway spruces will be enjoyed by walkers, cyclists and horse riders and provide a habitat for wildlife including ospreys, deer, pine martens and threatened red squirrels.

Ben Quarcoo, from Forestry and Land Scotland’s team in the area, said: ‘We are really pleased to accept these trees, to increase the forest coverage across the Kilpatrick Hills.’

Just 13 per cent of the UK is covered in forest although this is set to increase after the Mail’s campaign has seen more than 100,000 trees planted and pledged across the country.

The Norway spruce is an important haven for red squirrels which are in decline across the UK, with only 30,000 now remaining in England, and they feed on the cones. 

Daily Mail Campaign: Be a Tree Angel - Help Make Britain Greener

Daily Mail Campaign: Be a Tree Angel – Help Make Britain Greener



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