The Great Western Community Forest is to be part of a new Western Forest serving more than 2.5 million people.
Councillor Emma Bushell, Swindon Borough Council’s Deputy Leader, said: “I whole heartedly welcome this bold and ambitious woodland creation and restoration programme, with new the Western Forest spanning the whole of the Great Western Community Forest, Forest of Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire.
“The Great Western Community Forest celebrated its 30th year last year, which has Swindon at its heart. Over 50,000 trees have been planted over the last five years, with the forest covering an area of more than 168 square miles.
"Being part of the Western Forest means that the wider region will benefit from efforts at scale to increase forest canopy cover for both rural and urban communities.
"It will bring new opportunities to create accessible woodlands, connect communities and enable everyone to enjoy our beautiful green spaces across the Western Forest area that is home to 2.5 million people. I look forward to see what we can do working together at scale across the wider region.”
The new forest is described as bringing communities and woodlands closer together as part of the Government’s Plan for Change and help England reach its target of increasing woodland cover to 16.5 percent by 2050 and support the Government’s nature targets including halting the decline of species and protecting 30 percent of land for nature.
The new national forest will enable existing partnerships to accelerate activity under a mission, by presenting a unified vision for large-scale woodland creation and restoration that connects these three regions. Over the first five years, new priority areas will be brought into scope through this new national forest to maximise social, economic and environmental benefits.
The forests will work with both rural and urban communities, working across new collaborations to create transformational programmes focused on volunteering, health, education and access.
The Western Forest, its backers say, will also enable the new homes and infrastructure needed across the area, facilitating the creation of publicly accessible green space alongside development and helping to mitigate flood risks for new communities.
In its rural areas, the forest will work with farmers in a predominately agricultural landscape to demonstrate how trees on farms and farm woodlands can deliver multiple environmental, economic, and social benefits, without compromising food production.
Alex Stone, chief executive, Forest of Avon Trust, said: "The Forest of Avon is thrilled to have led a wonderfully diverse and engaged partnership to bring the Western Forest to life.
"This is about resource, funding and expertise coming directly to landowners, partners and communities, planting millions of trees in the right places. Together, we will enhance landscapes for all to enjoy, improving the lives of our 2.5 million residents and visitors to the region.
“Encompassing two of England’s Community Forests and working alongside the National Forest Company and Defra, the Western Forest will enhance, connect and improve our urban and rural landscapes, support investment into the region, create jobs and skills opportunities and bring the endless benefits we get back from planting and caring for our trees. It is a very exciting time for this region, and we look forward to helping shape what the Western Forest will become."
Savita Willmott, Chief Executive of the Natural History Consortium, said: “The new national forest will serve over 2.5 million local residents, and we will put people and wellbeing at the heart of our transformation plans. Our Western Forest will support communities across our urban centres including Bristol, Bath and Swindon.
"Our priorities for improving access to nature will boost health as well provide thousands of opportunities for building green skills, volunteering, and supporting the regional economy in local areas. We can’t wait to get started!”
The Western Forest is the first new national forest confirmed as part of Government action to boost nature and tree-planting, achieve net zero by 2050 and create new green jobs. Its concept and development has been funded by Defra and supported by the National Forest Company. The National Forest Company will provide its support and experience to help the development of the Western Forest.
Achieving the planting of 20 million trees by 2050 will mean that they could absorb approximately 2.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide and also help reach the Government’s net zero and nature targets including halting the decline of species and protecting 30 percent of land for nature by 2030.
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