Jack’s Key sees new trees take root

Since acquiring Jack’s Key Lodge in Darwen, the council along with the local community are making noticeable changes already.

Back in December the council announced that it had bought Jack’s Key Lodge, historically known as Jack’s Kay Lodge. Originally established in the 1800s as a reservoir supplying water to a nearby paper mill, it’s now a rich and varied habitat for a variety of species.

Yesterday, Thursday 12 February, the council’s Green Spaces team, Lancashire Constabulary and Lancashire County Council Treescapes team worked with over 200 students from St Barnabas Primary School on Knowsley Road in Darwen to plant almost 900 trees on the route into the nature reserve.

The council has a Tree and Woodland Strategy which is an ambitious plan to protect, maintain, improve and expand the borough’s trees, hedgerows and woodlands. Part of the funding to increase our trees in Blackburn with Darwen has been received by the Lancashire County Council Treescapes team, from The Tree Council ‘Trees Outside Woodland’ Grant.

A micro-wood or ‘Miyawaki’ wood is a new method of creating a fast growing, miniature forest in urban environments. Using conventional methods, a forest can take 200-300 years to mature, while this method only takes 20-30 years.

So far, 42 micro-woods have been planted in Lancashire, this at Jack’s Key being the sixth in the borough.

The work undertaken yesterday is part of an ambitious project to plant native, cell grown trees at Jack’s Key, which will improve local biodiversity, increase native woodland cover and support long term nature recovery for the site.

Mrs Ham, the Headteacher at St Barnabas CE Primary Academy said:

At St Barnabas, we believe that the classroom isn’t limited by four walls. Seeing our 207 pupils and staff out at Jack’s Key was a proud moment for the entire school community.

We know from our ‘Muddy Mondays’ and our support of the WWF’s Big Winter Wander that connecting with nature is vital for children’s mental and physical health. This micro forest project, alongside our plans for a community orchard, are more than just environmental education; it’s about inspiring our children to actively build a greener, healthier future for themselves and Darwen, putting down strong roots and a legacy that they can look back on and say, ‘I helped plant that.’

Jack’s Key, which is around 16 hectares in total is due to receive further improvements in future, including improving access, paths, fences and watercourses.

Phil Riley, Leader of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council said:

Following the purchase of Jack’s Key recently, I’m so excited to see so much activity here already.

This is just the start of many changes we have planned as a council, and already I’ve had so many positive comments from the public about it.

It’s a huge deal for Darreners and I hope everyone enjoys using it.

Councillor Jim Smith, Executive Member for Environment and Resident Services said:

Getting children involved in their local environment is key and it’s been fantastic to watch the children be so eager to plant trees.

They can look back in many years to come and know that they had a hand in creating the new micro-wood.