How England’s largest forest went from commodity to conservation haven

Source: The Guardian Link: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jun/02/kielder-england-largest-forest-commodity-conservation Published: June 02, 2026 Keywords: Canada Kielder in Northumberland is balancing commercial production with conserving peatland and rare plants and animals Driving through part of Northumberland, you might look around at the tall Sitka spruce and imagine yourself in Canada’s evergreen forests, or perhaps, on a sunny day, in northern California. Instead, you are in England’s largest forest, Kielder, often heralded as a success story that balances commercial production with ambitious conservation. The first trees of this 60,000-hectare forest were planted 100 years ago with one aim: increasing Britain’s timber reserves. Much has changed since then. From a single-use plantation, Kielder Forest has been transformed into a haven for nature and an invaluable environmental asset. Continue reading... --- This article was automatically collected by the Observatory News Scraper.