Planting a Lasting Legacy for People and Nature
Tree planting on Levisham Brow, January 2025. © North York Moors Trust (2025).
A heartfelt initiative in the North York Moors National Park is bringing people and nature together - restoring woodland while commemorating loved ones and inspiring the next generation.
Planting a Lasting Legacy, led by local charity the North York Moors Trust, is helping to enhance biodiversity, enrich wildlife habitats, and strengthen landscape resilience.
Through the planting of native broadleaf trees at Levisham Brow, on the scenic walk from the Hole of Horcum, the initiative is also replacing ash trees lost to Ash Dieback, a devastating fungal disease.
At the same time, the initiative provided an opportunity for the public to dedicate trees to loved ones, offering a sustainable way to commemorate their memory while supporting the protection and enhancement of nature and wellbeing of the next generation.
The initiative raised over £3,000, which will help fund work that connect children and young people with nature and the National Park, particularly those who face barriers doing so independently.
One of the initiative’s biggest supporters were the residents of Mickle Hill retirement village in Pickering, who collectively donated the majority of trees and contributed an additional gift to the Trust.
Residents from Mickle Hill, Pickering, with James Metcalfe, Executive Director of the North York Moors Trust. © North York Moors Trust (2024).
The Trust planted a diverse mixture of native broadleaf trees - including oak, birch, hazel, and wild cherry - with the oak trees propagated from acorns collected in the North York Moors. As the trees grow they will contribute to provision of food and shelter for wildlife and pollinator, the improvement of soil health and reduced erosion, storage of carbon, and the slowing of rainfall.
Tree planting was supported by staff and volunteers from the North York Moors National Park Authority, reflecting their shared commitment to the protection and enhancement of the landscape.
North York Moors National Park volunteers planting trees at Levisham Brow, January 2025. © North York Moors Trust (2025).
Beyond conservation, Planting a Lasting Legacy is about shaping the future—helping young people build confidence, curiosity and a lifelong love for the nature and the National Park.
Funds raised through tree dedications will directly support the development and delivery of the Trust’s projects like Stepping Stones to Nature, which builds a connection with nature and introduces children from Teesside to the North York Moors National Park, many for the very first time. These targeted programmes allow children and young people to experience and benefit from the natural world through play, investigation, exploration, and creation, whilst forging a meaningful, lasting connection with the National Park.
James Metcalfe, Executive Director of the North York Moors Trust, said:
"This initiative has been incredibly inspiring and moving - hearing the stories behind each tree dedication and providing a sustainable way to honour loved ones all while contributing to our National Park.
Even more powerful is the knowledge that not only will many of these stand for decades if not centuries to come but enable our charity to connect the next generation with nature and the National Park and support their health, development and learning in the process - real lasting legacies."
Our National Parks are special places, to be protected and enjoyed. Through this initiative, we are proud to have provided an opportunity for people to contribute in a small but meaningful way to that effort - helping nature and people to thrive together."
James Metcalfe, Executive Director of the North York Moors National Park with William Rex, a donor to the Planting a Lasting Legacy scheme. © North York Moors Trust (2024).
The North York Moors Trust is currently planning to run this initiative again in 2025. For more information you can contact the Trust at enquiries@northyorkmoorstrust.uk.
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Coverage:
Lasting legacy for people and nature at Levisham Brow - Gazette and Herald - 12/02/2025