Nature is flourishing at Alconbury Weald, a new community near Huntingdon, where more than 50,000 trees have been planted already on the way to a planned total of half a million trees for the development, making it a fantastic choice for lovers of the great outdoors.
Urban & Civic is transforming the former airfield to provide 5,000 homes and a new business area, along with schools, community facilities, transport connections and a number of parks, including a new 155-acre country park for the area.
Each phase of development seeks to enhance wildlife habitats, providing better living conditions for local flora and fauna. The first 50,000 newly planted trees at Alconbury Weald will store 170 tonnes of carbon every year and help remove over 1.24 tonnes of airborne pollutants. The new trees also add to the development’s aesthetic appeal, encouraging residents to spend more time outdoors, which is beneficial for physical and mental wellbeing.
Diversity is also key to Alconbury Weald, with 81 species of trees now planted, including Field Maple, English Oak, Hawthorn and Hazel. Species of importance for conservation also call it home, including brown hares and song thrushes.
The first phase of development will deliver a 3.7% increase in the biodiversity of the area, and the team continue to work with partners to increase this to 10% across Alconbury Weald as a whole.
For more information on Alconbury Weald and to listen to Wild Weald, a podcast exploring the development’s ecological wonders, visit alconbury-weald.co.uk/discover
