Woods will run from the Cotswolds to the Mendips, taking in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Bristol, helping to boost wildlife, tackle climate change and create jobs.
The Western Forest will support the Government's net-zero commitment as part of a vow to create three forests this Parliament and will help England hit a target of increasing woodland cover to 16.5% of the land by 2050.
Helping to plant the first sapling, nature minister Mary Creagh said: “We will plant 20 million trees in the Western Forest to bring nature closer to people, prevent flooding and support wildlife.”
With three-quarters of the planned area being farmland, the project will integrate trees into the farmed landscape to regenerate soil and protect against drought and flood without compromising food production.
Recover
Environment Department officials said work would also revitalise existing woodlands and other vital habitats. In addition to 6,200 acres of new woodland, there are plans to take 3,700 acres of woodland into sustainable management by 2030.
The Western Forest will be led by the Forest of Avon charity and supported by up to £7.5million of Government funding over five years.
The investment will establish new woods that connect existing sites, create mixed habitats and support community planting in locations where it can help nature recover and where trees can contribute to slowing flows of water in storms.
Alex Stone, chief executive of the Forest of Avon trust, said the project would enhance landscapes an...
The Western Forest will support the Government's net-zero commitment as part of a vow to create three forests this Parliament and will help England hit a target of increasing woodland cover to 16.5% of the land by 2050.
Helping to plant the first sapling, nature minister Mary Creagh said: “We will plant 20 million trees in the Western Forest to bring nature closer to people, prevent flooding and support wildlife.”
With three-quarters of the planned area being farmland, the project will integrate trees into the farmed landscape to regenerate soil and protect against drought and flood without compromising food production.
Recover
Environment Department officials said work would also revitalise existing woodlands and other vital habitats. In addition to 6,200 acres of new woodland, there are plans to take 3,700 acres of woodland into sustainable management by 2030.
The Western Forest will be led by the Forest of Avon charity and supported by up to £7.5million of Government funding over five years.
The investment will establish new woods that connect existing sites, create mixed habitats and support community planting in locations where it can help nature recover and where trees can contribute to slowing flows of water in storms.
Alex Stone, chief executive of the Forest of Avon trust, said the project would enhance landscapes an...
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Daily Express (Digital) - 1 Issue, March 22, 2025