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NT opens UK's largest winter garden
iN Brief
Nearly 700 different plant species have been used to create Dunham attraction
Consultation over Lake
District future plans
By Martin Nash The Lake District National Park
Authority has launched a
A new 7-acre (2.8-hectare) consultation to invite members
Winter Garden, said to be the of the public to help identify
largest of its kind in the UK, sites that could be used for
has been opened at the future development. As part of
National Trust's (NT) Dunham the national park's Local
Massey property in Cheshire. Development Framework, the
The area occupied by the Allocations of Land Development
garden was originally part of Plan document aims to outline
Dunham's deer park, which was potential areas for housing,
fenced off at the turn of the employment and other
20th century in order to development requirements.
provide grazing for the resident Emma Hill, the deputy head gardener in the new winter garden
Stamford family's ponies.
BW launches new
When the NT acquired the area was maintained by The garden contains nearly
moorings consultation
Dunham Massey in 1976, the keeping some of the large oak 700 different plant species and A three-month public
paddock had become over- and beech trees, several species a further 1,600 types of shrub consultation designed to gather
grown, so the area was tidied of rhododendron, pieris, were specifically bred for the comments on plans for the
and re-stocked. However, by bluebells, azaleas and hollies. Winter Garden. All of the plant management of mooring space
2007, trees and shrubs had The garden's design and its species had to feature at least along canals and rivers has been
once again taken over. planting schemes were planned two of a range of specific unveiled by British Waterways.
Clearing work started in June with the help of UK plantsman characteristics including winter The organisation believes a new
2007 and lasted six months. Roy Lancaster, working with bark, flower, fruit, autumn policy needs to be implemented
The original woodland feel of Dunham's own garden staff. colour or scent and sound. to help meet sustained growth
and popularity in boating,
including restrictions on the
New woodland planned for Yorkshire Dales
length of time that boats can
moor in areas of high usage. An
By Martin Nash increase in the number of
official residential moorings and
At least 80 hectares (198-acres) a commitment to controlled
of new woodland are set to be expansion of long-term moorings
planted in the Yorkshire Dales also form part of the proposals
National Park as part of efforts put to consultation, which
to boost visitor numbers. closes on 31 January 2010.
The Yorkshire Dales National
Park Authority (YDNPA), the
NNPA reports increase
Forestry Commission and the
a in pension fund deficit
Yorkshire Dales Millennium
:
ydnp
Northumberland National Park
Trust are looking to fund image Authority (NNPA) has released
schemes that will make The scheme will create 80 hectares of new woodland in the area its figures for the 2008-9
significant improvements to the financial year. The report shows
area in terms of the habitat, YDNPA's Senior Trees and of 'corridors' linked to each that the economic downturn has
landscape and wildlife. Woodland Officer, Geoff other and to other habitats like had a dramatic effect on the
In May, the YDNPA put out a Garrett, said: "We picked some grassland and meadows that financial profile of the authority.
call offering landowners cash to ancient woodlands within the provide a natural way for The impact of the recession and
plant more native broadleaved National Park that were wildlife to move around." the subsequent collapse in
woodland in the National Park, grouped together and made it More than 20 landowners equity values have increased the
the target being to plant 80 a priority to plant new areas have already volunteered for authority's pension fund deficit
hectares (198 acres) by the end between them to link them all. the woodland scheme and from £1.6m to £3.7m, which has
of the 2009–10 planting "This strategy aims to combat planting is now set to get resulted in the deficit being
season, which runs between the long-term effect of climate underway on a 80-hectare higher than NNPA's capital assets
October and March. change by creating a network (198-acre) area of land. and reserves.
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