A NEW woodland spanning almost 20 acres will be created as more than 1,800 trees are planted in Renfrewshire.

The Gleniffer Braes Country Park forms part of the Clyde Climate Forest, which aims to deliver climate and ecological benefits to the Glasgow City Region by planting more than 18 million trees over the next decade.

Renfrewshire Council declared a climate emergency in 2019 and set out the aim of the area becoming carbon-neutral by 2030.

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It is estimated the woodland will remove more than 55 tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere every year of its lifespan.

Councillor Cathy McEwan, convener of Renfrewshire’s infrastructure, land and environment policy board, visited the Braes with members of the Paisley Natural History Society to help plant the first of the new trees.

She said: “We recognise the importance we need to place on climate change, which is why every decision taken by this council has climate change as a consideration.

“Projects like the Clyde Climate Forest will remove a substantial amount of CO2 from the atmosphere and we’re actively looking at more locations throughout Renfrewshire where we can add trees.

“With COP26 taking place, now is the time to push forward with our climate ambitions and do all we can to reach our ambitious aim of Renfrewshire being carbon-neutral by 2030.”

Max Hislop, director of the Clyde Climate Forest, added: “It’s really great to see Renfrewshire Council taking positive steps to address the climate and ecological crises by planting so many trees.

“This new woodland will become an important addition to the Clyde Climate Forest. It is also a great example of the kind of collaboration between organisations that will be necessary to bring about a step change in delivery against our ambitious targets for woodland creation.”