500 Trees planted within Northumberland National Park



Illuminating Hadrian's Wall - Steel Rigg, Northumberland.



Saturday 13^th March 2010, saw Hadrian’s Wall Path National Trail illuminated with 500 points of light from gas burners and flares. In total, 1200 illuminators were stationed at 250 metre intervals along the 84 mile route. The ‘line of light’ started at Wallsend and travelled across the country until it reached Bowness on Solway.

The progress of the ‘line of light’ was filmed using a helicopter, the first beacon was lit at 5.45 p.m. and the last at just after 7.00 p.m.

At the planning stage of the event, Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Limited made a commitment through their published Environmental and Sustainability Policy to offset the carbon from the gas burners and helicopter fuel, through a process of tree planting within the Hadrian’s Wall corridor.

A calculation was carried out to work out the amount of carbon used (burners and helicopter fuel only) and how many new trees that would equate to if they were to act as a carbon sink, over the duration of their lifetime to maturity.

Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Limited now plans to create new managed woodland within the Northumberland National Park as a living legacy from the event.

Volunteers are going to plant 500 trees, consisting of Rowan, Silver Birch, Goat Willow, Alder, Oak and Scots Pine at two National Park sites: Walltown Quarry and Cawfields.

This number of trees more than over compensates the number of trees suggested from the results of the calculation; this is to allow for any other sources of carbon used during the event. These 500 trees will represent the 500 points of light illuminated for the event.

On the 9^th March 2011, we assembled at Walltown Quarry, National Park Recreation site. The group braving the wind, snow and rain consisted of: Northumberland National Park Rangers, Northumberland National Park Voluntary Rangers, Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Limited Staff and National Trail Volunteer Rangers.

                                                     

Walltown Quarry trees were planted and protected by lunchtime. After lunch, which was provided by Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Limited, we all moved to the second site at Cawfields, National Park Recreation site. Getting all trees, tools and equipment ready, the group sprang into action again and completed the task by mid afternoon.

Walltown Quarry, Northumberland.

Cawfields, Northumberland.

It is coming up to the first anniversary of Illuminating Hadrian’s Wall; the work carried out at the two sites is a fitting tribute to the widely successful and ambitious project.

Without a range of different organisations, their support and all of the individuals involved, this once in a lifetime event would not have been possible.