Landowners are being offered grants to plant trees in a scheme designed to help the island meet climate change goals.

Those deemed eligible under the Woodlands Grant Scheme (WGS) can be paid up to £4,880 per hectare to create and maintain woodland.

It’s part of the government’s plan to meet a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Environment, Food and Agriculture Minister Geoffrey Boot said: ’To reach net zero, action must be taken to not only reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, but also to capture carbon from the atmosphere and the WGS can play a crucial role.

’In coming years we are predicted to lose thousands of trees to ash dieback and other diseases on the Island so this scheme is a great step forward and we will reap the benefits for years to come.’

The WGS will provide a one-off payment to landowners, or tenants with the land owners permission, and cover the majority of planting costs with additional funds provided each year for maintenance of sites of up to 10 hectares per claim. Planning approval will be required and each woodland must remain in place for at least 30 years.

The government has planted 85,000 trees at Meary Veg in Santon to create a People’s Wood (pictured