THE National Trust for Jersey are hoping to use wood from trees grown on their land to heat its properties and for fencing.

A donation of £16,000 from a benefactor who wishes to remain anonymous has made it possible for the trust to buy four vergees of agricultural land adjacent to its existing woodland at Le Don Gaudin and Le Don de Carteret in St Peter’s Valley.

Trust lands manager Jon Horn said that the trust was looking at a number of ways to offset its carbon footprint.

‘We are hoping to plant an area of commercial woodland on this land and, over a period of years, reach the stage when we can cut some wood annually for our wood-burning stoves, fencing and other uses,’ he said.

Species they are considering for this woodland are likely to include chestnut and hazel.

Mr Horn said that the land they had recently purchased would make the area they owned in the valley much wider and enable the creation of increased habitat for wildlife.

‘Within ten to 15 years we hope to be able to cut down enough wood each year for the trust’s needs, as well as to continue to provide habitat for wildlife in the area,’ he said.