10,000 oak trees to be planted at North Park to celebrate Queen's Diamond Jubilee

A LASTING legacy of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee is to be created at one of the region's most popular tourist attractions.

The North Park at the Trentham Estate has been chosen as one of just 60 Diamond Woods across the country.

It is part of the Woodland Trust's Jubilee Woods project, which aims to plant six million trees across the UK.

Developer St Modwen, which runs the estate, is investing more than £100,000 in restoring the North Park, now officially known as the Trentham Diamond Wood.

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St Modwen regional director, Mike Herbert, said the project would create new jobs and boost tourism.

He said: "More than a dozen people have been employed to work on the restoration project and with Trentham's own estates team, and many more will work on the planting of the Diamond Wood.

"The new Royal status will also attract even more visitors to Trentham, boosting tourism in the region and stimulating the local economy.

"We anticipate that the designation of the Diamond Wood will encourage hundreds of people from schools and community groups to participate in this permanent celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee."

The North Park was a key feature of the estate when it was owned by the Duke of Sutherland family from the 1540s to 1979.

Mr Herbert said the area had been left to deteriorate before St Modwen took over the estate in 1996, with "inappropriate" planting and quarrying for gravel for the construction of the M6. The restoration includes the planting of more than 10,000 native Sessile oak trees.

Estate bosses hope it will reveal the hidden character of the 18th century parkland landscape attributed to garden designer Charles Bridgeman, who worked at Trentham from 1719 to 1725.

His creation was later incorporated into a more naturalistic scheme by the landscape architect, Lancelot 'Capability' Brown during 1759 to 1780.

It is hoped the project will also help reveal the Patte d'Oie, (foot of the goose), three grand avenues of lime trees starting at the original main entrance of Trentham Hall which were laid out in the 18th century.

Many of the historic trees are still there but have become hidden over the years.

Another key part of the project will be to replant the "Seven Sisters", a cluster of trees which were once a prominent landmark at the top of the Trentham ridge.

Work on the project got underway in February when a pine forest planted about 50 years ago as a commercial crop was removed to prepare the area.

Woodland Trust Jubilee Woods director Georgina McLeod said: "We're absolutely delighted that St Modwen has joined with the Trust to create one of these 60 very special Diamond Woods.

"They will help make a massive difference to the environment and pay a special tribute to Her Majesty the Queen."

Queen's Diamond Jubilee special: Page 23

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