03.04.23 – Lyme Forest in Newcastle, Digitisations of Staffordshire Enclosure Maps
Written by Hitmix Local News on 3 April 2023
Hundreds of lime trees are being planted to mark a historic anniversary and make a green commitment for the future.
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council is planting 850 lime trees, plus other broadleaf species, to create a commemorative Lyme Forest to mark the 850th anniversary of the granting of the Borough’s first Royal Charter.
The forest will be created on the northern boundary of the former Keele Golf Course in Silverdale. As well as three species of lime trees native to the UK, field maple, cherry, rowan and oak will also be planted as part of the deciduous forest, all removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, helping the journey towards achieving a carbon-neutral Borough by 2050.
Once planted, ‘Lyme Forest’ will form part of the area’s mosaic of green spaces to support nature and provide a protected area of green space for future generations.
_________________________________________________________________
People in Staffordshire interested in their local and family history are getting a glimpse of the county’s past thanks to a new project.
Staffordshire Archives and Heritage service have digitised their collection of historic enclosure maps. Dating from between 1738 and 1884, the maps are large scale and very accurate and show the new landscape of fields, roads and buildings. As well as being great sources of information for local history, many of the maps are beautifully drawn.
Around half of the 200 maps are now available to view online at www.staffspasttrack.org.uk, with the rest to follow in the coming weeks.
The project was made possible by the Friends of Staffordshire & Stoke-on-Trent Archive Service with a grant from Midlands Ancestors’ Kemp Legacy Fund.
