New trees for wind turbine (From Stroud News and Journal)

New trees for wind turbine

A NEW woodland is to be planted in Nympsfield to fulfil a promise made to customers by renewable energy company Ecotricity.

The Stroud based green-energy firm is to plant 20,000 trees at Lynch Knoll, home of it controversial wind turbine.

"When we set up our domestic tariff we made a promise that we would plant a tree for every new customer," said Corrina Malcolmson, a spokesman for the company. "We're hoping to begin planting by early December."

All the trees planted with be broadleaves including oak, ash and beech along with smaller trees such as field maple, rowan, willow and hazel.

From next year the fledgling forest will be open to the public and a network of footpaths will be planned in to help people enjoy the woods as they mature.

The chosen site is between two areas of mature woodland and it is hoped it will eventually link them, providing a corridor for wildlife.

"We hope the forest will encourage more wildlife and increase the populations," said Ms Malcolmson. In keeping with Ecotricity's green image the scheme will also benefit the environment.

As trees are the 'lungs' of the planet, the woods will also go some way towards offsetting carbon dioxide emissions and thus global warming as they convert the greenhouse gas into carbon to grow and release pure oxygen back into the atmosphere.

Ms Malcolmson said the Ecotricity wood will not effect any future plans for more wind turbines on the site as it will be some distance from the existing one.