HOUSEBUILDER Skipton Properties has donated £15,000 towards the creation of a community woodland at its new The Alders residential development in the town.

Planting of the just under five acre, two hectare, woodland at the development, off Aldersley Avenue, on the outskirts of Skipton, is due to take place next year, at the start of the planting season.

It will be carried out in partnership with the Clapham based environmental charity, Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT), which, often with the help of businesses, has planted nearly 1.6 million trees across the Dales over the last 25 years.

Cross Hills based Skipton Properties hopes members of the community will want to take part in the tree planting, which it says is part of its commitment to sustainability and the creation of thriving communities.

It adds that the planting of the woodland in early 2024 will create vital new habitat for nature and people, not just the residents of the new houses.

It hopes that the woodland will become a valuable community asset as it grows over the next five to 10 years.

By investing in the environment and collaborating with the community, the company aims to establish a 'sustainable and vibrant neighbourhood' at The Alders.

Caroline Van Nierkerk, sales and marketing director of Skipton Properties said:"We are thrilled to partner with Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust again, and this time, inviting the community to participate in our tree-planting initiative.

"As a responsible housebuilder, we are committed to creating thriving communities and investing in the environment. We believe that this initiative will not only benefit the environment but also bring the community together and create a sense of pride in The Alders development."

YDMT will provide all the necessary equipment and guidance to ensure that the trees are planted correctly.

The charity has recently partnered with tree shelter specialist Tubex which is setting up 14 hubs around the UK where tree shelters – the plastic tubes placed around saplings to protect them from wildlife and weather during the early stages of growth – can be dropped off to be recycled, free of charge.

The first Dales hub will be at Craven Auction Mart in Skipton, where people will be able to drop off tree shelters from May 25 to 27, provided they book in with YDMT beforehand. There will be a second date in Skipton, later in the year.

For more information about the tree-planting at The Alders development, visit www.skiptonproperties.com

To drop off tubes, email: tubes@ydmt.org