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Hayhills Farm
Woodland Trust and Lloyds plant the seeds for a new Yorkshire woodland.
Read time: 4 mins Added: 23/05/25
21 Hectares of new woodland to benefit community and wildlife
The Woodland Trust, with support from Lloyds and local volunteers, is transforming Hayhills Farm in Silsden on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales into a thriving new woodland that will benefit both the local community and wildlife.
Creating 21 hectares of new woodland, the equivalent of 10 football pitches, the site will feature more than 30,000 native trees, including species like sessile oak, wild cherry, silver birch and rowan. In addition, another five hectares of rare ancient woodland will be restored, enhancing biodiversity in an area with some of the lowest tree cover in the UK.
With the tree planting season already underway, local residents, schools and community groups have been invited to join the effort, with opportunities for volunteering and outdoor learning activities available throughout the year.
Over the next 50 years, the woodland at Hayhills Farm will evolve into a thriving habitat for local wildlife, serve as a long-term carbon store and provide a sustainable space for the community to enjoy the outdoors. Its prime location near the popular Millennium Way walking route means that pathways will connect the woodland to the trail, making it an ideal spot for walkers, families and nature enthusiasts to explore and enjoy.
The site is part of the Northern Forest – an ambitious plan to plant 50 million trees across the M62 corridor, between Liverpool and Hull. The tree planting at Hayhills Farm is being funded through the Northern Forest Grow Back Greener programme, which is led by the Woodland Trust in partnership with White Rose Forest, with funding from the Government's Nature for Climate Fund.
What’s happening at Hayhills is so much more than just planting trees – it’s about creating something that truly brings the community together. This project will give local wildlife a real boost, open up more green space for locals and offer young people exciting learning opportunities. It’s a chance for everyone to roll up their sleeves, get involved and truly connect with nature - creating a space that will be enjoyed by generations to come.
Robbie Moore MP for Keighley and IlkleyLloyds’ commitment to planting 10 million trees
The work at Hayhills Farm also forms part of Lloyds’ ten-year commitment to plant ten million trees across the UK by 2030, in partnership with the Woodland Trust. This initiative involves working with landowners, the Trust’s Community Tree Pack scheme and creating ten new woods at Woodland Trust sites nationwide. So far, eight of the ten sites have been secured, and tree planting has already begun at several locations, with support from local communities and organisations.
This partnership, which began in 2020, is an initiative which plants native trees to boost biodiversity and absorb harmful carbon dioxide from the air. During their lifespan, it’s estimated the 10 million trees could absorb as much as 2.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide whilst restoring and protecting the UK’s natural environment.
If you manage a farm or private land, integrating trees can bring huge benefits – and there’s no need to take large areas out of production. Find out more about the Woodland Trust's planting schemes.