A special celebration event has taken place at a new Nottinghamshire woodland to mark the final tree being planted there.

Councillor John Cottee, Nottinghamshire County Council’s Deputy Member for Transport and Environment, performed the ceremonial planting at Monarch Wood, near Willey Wood Farm, at Brinsley on Monday (16 December).

Monarch Wood is a new woodland created as part of the Government-led programme Trees for Climate, sponsored by the Woodland Trust, the county council’s Green Investment Fund, and the Greenwood Community Forest.

More than 33,000 trees have been planted at the site, which was acquired in 2022 to create the wood, as part of the county council’s commitment to planting 250,000 trees across Nottinghamshire – a target it will achieve by March 2025.

Cllr Cottee was joined at the celebration event by volunteers from the Friends of Brinsley Headstock Group, who have helped with the planting effort at the site, as well as representatives from the Woodland Trust and Greenwood Community Forest.

He said: “I was delighted and honoured to pick up a spade and plant the final tree at Monarch Wood, a new woodland area which will contribute significantly to mitigating the impact of climate change.

“As a council, we know how important the environment is to Nottinghamshire residents and that’s why I am delighted that we will soon meet our pledge of planting 250,000 trees across the county – and ahead of schedule, too.

“I would like to thank everyone involved with the excellent Trees for Climate programme, as well as volunteers from the Friends of Brinsley Headstock Group, local people and our partners, for helping us to get these new trees planted into the ground.

“Planting thousands of extra trees is going to bring so many benefits to our local communities, including creating new habitats for wildlife, improving air quality, and giving residents an improved experience.

“It goes without saying that I very much look forward to seeing this wonderful new woodland grow and mature.”

Nottinghamshire schoolgirl, Ella Heappey, won a competition, organised by the county council and the Greenwood Community Forest, earlier this year to rename the woodland in memory of the late HRH Queen Elizabeth II.

Willey Wood Farm was awarded Platinum Woods status in 2022 by the Woodland Trust, a leading delivery partner of the Queen's Green Canopy – which is an initiative creating a legacy in honour of the late Queen, with its key aim to plant trees in communities to enhance their environment.

The ceremony was also attended by members of the Wright family – with four generations supporting the planting effort since the first community event at the site in February 2023 – and Paul and Diana Redgate, who owned and worked the land before selling it and have been supportive of the project.

Nick Tucker, the county council’s Woodland Creation Project Manager, said: “The special ceremony marked the end of planting at Monarch Wood, and it was great to welcome and thank so many people who have been involved in transforming the site.

“The Trees for Climate programme is a fantastic initiative and has enabled us, with vital support from our partners, the Woodland Trust, to drive forward key projects like this to help improve our communities.

“Planting thousands of trees will increase Nottinghamshire's Net Zero ambitions as natural carbon capture and serve as a green space that residents will enjoy now and for future generations.

“This new, native woodland is a hugely important step in tackling the environmental challenges we face, and I know Brinsley and the surrounding area will benefit hugely from this green scheme.”

Ben Green, Woodland Trust External Affairs Officer, said Monarch Wood is a shining example of how collaboration and community action can create meaningful change for the environment.

He said: “With over 33,000 trees planted, this new woodland will serve as a vital green space for wildlife and future generations, contributing to our collective fight against climate change.

“We are proud to have supported Nottinghamshire County Council in delivering such an impactful project.”