CONCERNED about the carbon that the Church in the diocese must have emitted into the atmosphere during its Year of the Environment in 2011, York has conscientiously offset it by planting 60 oak trees on the Nostell Priory estate owned by the National Trust.

The deed was done by (left to right) the Priory's parkland ranger, Mike Dudding; the Rector of Stamford Bridge, the Revd Fran Wakefield; the Acting Archdeacon of York, Canon Suzanne Sheriff; and the diocesan surveyor and estates manager, Graham Andrews.

It was the fulfilment of a promise that the diocese had made, to offset its emissions during its Environment Year, and they had heard that the estate needed more oak trees. Mr Dudding said how much the estate appreciated the new saplings, as the existing oaks were 180 years old, and when they came down, because of either old age or disease, the new trees from the diocese would take their place.

"Joiners Wood is an area where our education team bring children who are visiting the priory to build dens and hunt for bugs, and I'm sure these trees will be enjoyed by children for generations to come," Mr Dudding said.