For each Research Article and Review article published in one of our journals, we are planting a tree in The Young People’s Forest at Mead in Derbyshire. This site, which is a former open cast mine, is managed and maintained by the Woodland Trust.

The forest is located on the edge of Heanor and Smalley, close to Shipley Country Park. The area has a long and rich history, with the land having belonged to Vikings over 1,000 years ago. Around the 16th century, coal mining began and remained an important activity for the estate in years to come. This has obviously had a grave impact on the biodiversity in the area.

Today the focus is on planting native trees and restoring the area to its original native woodland. Combined with species-rich grassland, ponds and open spaces this will create a rich and complex set of habitats for supporting biodiversity.

Trees planted in this forest include silver birch, oak, lime, alder, rowan and hawthorn. The site also has varied flora, including bluebells, which have many benefits to wildlife. The grove where The Forest of Biologists trees are planted is situated next to the butterfly banks. Animals that have been spotted in the Young People’s Forest include many bird species, including barn owls, as well as foxes, badgers and grey squirrels.

The Young People’s Forest actively engages children and young people to help shape the forest, not just by helping with the planting, but also with the planning. This encourages the next generation to truly take care of and take responsibility for this amazing and important part of their environment.

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