Dent Road: creating a woodland for the community

Hull City Council has planted new trees alongside Dent Road, creating a small urban woodland for the community to enjoy and enhancing the area for wildlife. The original woodland design was scaled down due to archaeological and ecological factors, but this worked out well, as the site was already a popular spot for dog walkers, cyclists and families. This woodland means there are both trees and space for these recreational activities.

Working together, Humber Forest and Rewilding Youth planted 576 trees, including a range of native species such as oak, wild cherry, bird cherry, alder, willow and beech.

The new community woodland alongside Dent Road in Hull has been planted with native species including oak, wild cherry, bird cherry, alder, willow and beech. Credit: Humber Forest

Community-led tree planting

A key goal of this project was to involve local residents to ensure they understood the benefits of the woodland and felt a sense of ownership over the new trees. Lots of residents also attended the community tree planting day, where families were encouraged to plant their own trees and mark them using What3Words, allowing them to track their tree’s growth for years to come. Rewilding Youth also held a range of nature-based activities including tree and plant identification, nature craft, bushcraft skills, a bug hunt and lots more.

Dr Charlotte Dean, director of Rewilding Youth, said:

“By providing nature connection activities such as tree ID, foraging and nature crafts, we aim to connect local young people and adults to the space they are planting, which ensures that they are invested in caring for and maintaining the site for future generations.”

The local community came out to help plant the new trees and get involved in a whole range of outdoor activities. Credit: Humber Forest

Positive impact

Public access and management

The woodland remains fully open to the public. By combining both trees and open land, the local community can continue to use and enjoy the space for recreation.

Enhancing wildlife and biodiversity

A diverse mix of native species – including oak, wild cherry, bird cherry, alder, willow and beech – creates a rich habitat for local wildlife, regardless of any activities by humans that might disturb them.

Community engagement, health and wellbeing

The largest goal of this project was to get the local community engaged and involved to enhance their wellbeing in nature. By getting them to plant their own trees and take ownership of their little slice of nature, this project builds a long-term appreciation for their local greenspace. As these trees grow, local residents can enjoy sitting under their canopy and walking through their own woodland.

Innovative approaches

By combining tree planting with a wild family activity day and hands-on nature education, Rewilding Youth could also educate anyone who came along on activities such as tree and plant identification, nature crafts, bushcraft skills and a bug hunt. The whole day also hoped to prevent any future antisocial behaviour that this urban site has suffered from in the last couple of years.

A lasting legacy for Hull

This project demonstrates the power of community involvement in urban woodland creation. By carefully balancing public access, biodiversity and engagement, the Dent Road woodland will continue to benefit both people and nature for generations to come.

Be part of the Northern Forest

Want to plant trees? Whether you’re creating new woodland or extending an existing site, you can reap a whole host of extra benefits.

• Boost biodiversity.
• Provide shelter.
• Protect your soil.
• Fight flooding.

Your new trees could be part of the Northern Forest and make a difference for people, wildlife and the environment in the North of England.