CCF celebrates 4-year milestone!

Since launching in spring 2021, the Clyde Climate Forest (CCF) has planted nearly 3.5 million new trees as a response to the climate and biodiversity crisis.

As the initiative celebrates 4 years, a significant woodland is developing at the site of the first plantings in Cart & Kittoch, Glasgow.  This demonstrates how far the project has come as the first trees planted now look incredible against Glasgow’s mixed urban and rural backdrop.

Image: the CCF team took some time out to inspect the original planting site.

Speaking at the site, Chris Stark, Director of Clyde Climate Forest, said “These trees were initially planted to extend the native woodland habitat of the neighbouring Cart and Kittoch Valley Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).”

“It is encouraging to see the change that has occurred in just 4 years with the increase in tree cover providing much needed habitat connectivity for species to move across the landscape.”

“The new woodland also helps wildlife by creating improvements for foraging and shelter, and the original planting has since been further extended resulting in over 30 hectares of new woodland.”

Ross Nimmo, Chair of the CCF Partnership, added “This is an incredible demonstration of the transition from strategy to delivery.  The Clyde Climate Forest initiative emerged from the City Region’s Green Network blueprint and is really starting to deliver the woodland element of our Nature Networks.” 

“Today, we can see real transformation on the first planting site which now links the Cart & Kittoch SSSI into Cathkin Braes Country Park and the Local Nature Reserve.”

“What a fantastic success story and huge contribution to the overall vision we have for Glasgow City Region.”

Image: the CCF team inspect some of the young CCF trees.

The Clyde Climate Forest is supported by all eight local authorities across the Region.  Each of the local authority Leaders pledged support by signing a Concordat agreement aimed at embedding CCF targets into their own plans and policies to help achieve Net Zero ambitions.

The initiative continues to increase tree canopy cover in urban areas vulnerable to climate impacts, create new woodlands to lock up carbon and connect habitats for wildlife. To date, trees have been planted on farmland, as well as on public and private landholdings, in partnership with a range of stakeholders as well as communities, landowners, and businesses.