A new woodland is to be created close to what was once an area
of industrial dereliction. Future generations will be able to
enjoy the woodland of oak trees close to the site of the former
Barnsley Main colliery thanks to a tree-planting project. Up to
10,000 native oaks will be planted close to Oaks Lane by
volunteers from a range of organisations. The tree-planting
scheme will create 25 acres of woodland as part of the Dearne
Valley Green Heart Nature Improvement Area project. A spokesman
said: "The saplings will benefit the natural environment
immediately and greater biodiversity benefit will occur as they
mature. "In 100 years the tree bark will be coarse and will
support a higher number of species, including insects, birds,
bats and fungi. "As well as benefiting wildlife, the new
woodland will help to combat damage done by carbon emissions and
reduce the risk and severity of localised flooding." Volunteers
will be planting trees all this month. The groups taking part
include the Conservation Volunteers (