Platt’s Wood Project in Hayfield has been showered with praise by local MP Robert Largan.

Established in 2014, the community woodland project in the heart of the High Peak is a mixture of wet woodland and grassland on a moderately sloping hillside, previously managed for grazing and now being planted as a community woodland.

With 1,400 trees already planted, the aim is to develop a woodland for community use, including shaded and open areas, biodiversity, a wildflower meadow, paths, and seating that residents can enjoy for decades to come.

The High Peak MP has been consistently pushing for more public funding towards conservation, protecting the local area’s environmental heritage. Robert’s first question in Parliament raised the importance of the Nature for Climate Fund.

Over £500 million of the £640 million Nature for Climate Fund is now dedicated to trees. Ministers aim to treble woodland creation rates in England by the end of this Parliament, contributing to the UK’s overall target of planting 30,000 hectares per year.

From that £500 million, a series of funds will support the creation and management of woodland, including the Woodland Creation Partnerships, the Urban Tree Challenge Fund, and a Local Authority Treescape Fund. 

Robert Largan MP commented:

“It was lovely to visit Platt’s Wood in Hayfield recently and see how the trees are growing in this impressive local project, where over 1,000 trees have been planted, and wonderful, bio-diverse community space has been created. 

“It’s a gorgeous spot and a real asset to the village. It would be great to see more initiatives like this across the High Peak.”

The Platt's Wood Project said: 

“Thank you so much to Robert Largan MP for visiting and for sharing how much you enjoyed your time at Platt’s Wood. We will always work to improve the land for the local community and local wildlife. We’re a little woodland with big plans.”