DAERA Minister Andrew Muir attended a public open day at Lenamore Wood near Gortin in County Tyrone. The event marked the planting of almost 30,000 native trees on the 16-hectare site managed by Ulster Wildlife.

Members of the public took guided tours of the new woodland and planted trees to mark the occasion. Plans exist to fully open the woodland to visitors.

The site borders a remnant of ancient woodland classified as Celtic rainforest or Atlantic oakwood. This habitat occurs in high rainfall and humidity areas and covers less than one per cent of land.

Restoration efforts at Lenamore Wood support species including red squirrel, Irish stoat, wood warbler, mosses, ferns and fungi.

Minister Muir noted his department's support for the project with over £100,000 via the Forest Expansion Scheme. He urged landowners to pursue new woodland creation using the Forest Expansion Scheme or Small Woodland Grant Scheme.