The new Western Forest plans: Our initial response

Gloucestershire is set to play a pivotal role in the creation of the new Western Forest, part of an ambitious national forest programme by the government. The Western Forest aims to revitalise existing woodlands and plant 20 million trees by 2030 creating at least 2,500 hectares of new woodland and other tree habitats.

Led by the Forest of Avon Charitable Trust with support from the Forestry Commission and DEFRA, the Western Forest is the first of three new forests proposed by the Government and stretches from the Cotswolds to the Mendips covering parts of Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and the West of England (Bristol and the former County of Avon).

The project aims to help mitigate the climate crisis by expanding tree and woodland cover, contributing to the achievement of the Government’s target to increase tree and woodland cover in England to 16.5% by 2050. It will also contribute to nature recovery, bring trees and woodlands closer to urban areas with locations such as Gloucester and Swindon set to benefit, support farmers to integrate trees into the farmed landscape, help mitigate flood risk, and support investment in the region and new employment opportunities.

Growing Gloucestershire

The goals of the Western Forest align closely with CPRE Gloucestershire’s ongoing efforts to enhance biodiversity across our county, complementing our successful Hedgerow Heroes Projects, where we work to plant and restore hedgerows, offering a wide range of environmental benefits supporting nature recovery and flood mitigation contributing to a greener, more sustainable future.

A countryside for all

The Western Forest proposal will not only provide significant environmental and climate mitigation benefits, but it will also align closely with CPRE’s mission to make green spaces accessible to all. The initiative extends beyond Gloucestershire’s countryside, reaching into urban areas like Gloucester ensuring that the advantages of increased woodland cover benefit both rural and urban communities. Additionally, the proposal aims to create jobs, enhance skills development, foster community initiatives, and generate investment to the region; goals that CPRE Gloucestershire champions.

CPRE Gloucestershire warmly supports the ambitions of the Western Forest. Getting the detail right will of course be essential; the right trees in the right place. We will want to ensure that projects within the programme support opportunities within the emerging Gloucestershire Local Nature Recovery Strategy and make a positive contribution to the conservation and enhancement of our county’s landscape. We will explore opportunities for CPRE involvement in the initiative.