What we do

The South Yorkshire Woodland partnership's primary objective is to increase the amount of trees and woodlands planted in South Yorkshire.

© SYWP, Doncaster Farm, Westfield
South Yorkshire Woodland Partnership Logo

We plan to increase tree coverage in South Yorkshire by:

  • Providing expert help and advice to public and private landowners at every stage of woodland creation, including regulatory processes and grant applications.
  • Mapping potential woodland areas across SY for woodland creation.
  • Ensuring sites are suitable for planting and looking at the impacts around this. 
  • Planting the right tree, in the right place, for the right reason, with the right management. 
  • Delivering a public engagement plan to increase the profile of tree planting and woodland creation in SY.
  • Raising funds and gaining support from new partners and/or organisations interested in carbon off-setting or natural flood risk management.
  • Supporting local authorities, including South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and other partners with their local, regional and national targets for tree planting and woodland creation.
  • Working and co-ordinating with our partners and other stakeholders.

Where we operate

The South Yorkshire region is comprised of the local authorities of Sheffield, Rotherham, Barnsley and Doncaster. This is within the Northern Forest.

Map of the South Yorkshire Area

Map of where we operate in South Yorkshire

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 and OS data (c) Crown copyright and database right (2024)

Carbon capture

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and all Local Authorities in South Yorkshire have declared a Climate Emergency and consider carbon capture through tree planting an important tool in meeting their carbon zero targets.  In response to this declaration the Sheffield City Region’s Net Zero Climate Emergency Response Framework sets out an approach to take action, especially through reforestation as well as green retrofitting, with public assets and infrastructure projects creating real opportunities.

More information on the benefits of woodlands and tree planting can be found here.

Wates Oaks Lane - Tree planting in Barnsley
@Wates Oaks Lane

Aren’t there enough trees already?

The current woodland cover in South Yorkshire is 10.3% or 16,008ha (National Forest Inventory)

On a local authority area basis; woodland cover in Sheffield is approximately 13% (4,791ha), Barnsley is 10.7% (3,571ha), Rotherham is 10.1% (2,892ha), Doncaster is 8.5% (4,808ha)

The average woodland cover in the UK is 13% This compares with 38% for the EU as a whole and 31% worldwide. (Forest Research)

Map of woodland cover in South Yorkshire

Map of woodland cover in South Yorkshire

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0 and OS data (c) Crown copyright and database right (2024)

As such, we have a long way to go to replace the woodlands we have lost over the centuries and even catch up with our European neighbours who enjoy the benefits we hope to produce.

However, there is a strong political will reflecting the publics support for more tree planting and the benefits this will bring. This was evident during the 2019 general election, when all main political parties made commitments to ambitious tree planting targets.

More info on how we can help landowners in South Yorkshire plant trees for free here.

Don Catchment Rivers Trust

Free help for landowners

The prospect of creating a whole new woodland might feel a bit daunting but we are here to help you by offering our support and expertise, so you can develop your own tree planting and woodland creation projects.

Read More about Free help for landowners
Tree planting in south yorkshire

Why Plant Trees?

South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and all Local Authorities in South Yorkshire have declared a Climate Emergency

Read More about Why Plant Trees?