Millions and millions of trees will be planted across the west of England to create an entirely new woodland. Western Forest will be England’s first national forest in 30 years, after one was established in the Midlands in the 1990s.
Over the next few decades, a whopping total of 20 million trees will be planted across key areas in Bristol, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Somerset. By 2030, it’ll stretch 2,500 hectares from the Cotswolds to the Mendips, and help reach the goal of 16.5 percent woodland cover in England by 2050.
All the work will be spearheaded by the Forest of Avon and supported by a five-year investment of £7.5m form the government. It’ll be the first of three national forests promised in the government’s manifesto over the next few decades.
Mary Creagh, the UK’s nature minister, said: ‘The Government was elected on a mandate to plant three new national forests this parliament, as part of our commitment to reach net zero and drive sustainable growth under the Government’s Plan for Change.
‘We will plant 20 million trees in the Western Forest to bring nature closer to people, prevent flooding and support wildlife.’
Alex Stone, chief executive of Forest of Avon, added: ‘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.’
Make Britain green again
The Western Forest isn’t the only big green project going on in the UK right now. From west Wales to Devon, across the country, work is going into bringing Britain’s Celtic rainforest back to life and in Scotland, experts are trying to unearth ancient woodlands. While all that’s happening, make the most of most magical forests in the UK that already exist.
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