Just after the last Ice Age, most of Britain was covered by forest. But after thousands of years of agriculture, dating back to the Bronze Age, only 13% of the UK is now covered by trees. That’s well below the European average of 39%, but could soon change with today’s (Friday, March 21) announcement.
The UK government has revealed plans to plant a new national foreststretching from the Cotswolds to the Mendips, to help meet a legal environment target of 16.5% woodland cover in England by 2050 (it’s currently at 10%). Over the coming decades, 20 million trees will be planted, creating at least 2,500 hectares of new woodland.
The Western Forestas it’s being called, will cover urban areas like Bristol, Gloucester, Salisbury and Swindon; while over 73% of the new national forest’s land is agricultural. It isn’t the only new national forest the country can expect either with the government manifesto committed to two more – with a Northern Forest among those proposed.
This creation of a new national forest will be spearheaded by the Forest of Avon and supported by up to £7.5 million of government funding over five years. The aim is to revitalise existing woodlands and other habitats to create a forest networkwhile also integrating trees into the farmed landscape through agroforestry and farm woodlands.
What is a national forest?
Despite what it sounds like, everyone in Bristol isn’t about to have to walk through a grove of oak trees just to get to Tesco. It doesn’t mean wall-to-wall trees, but a distinctly wooded area where everywhere from towns to wetlands, cities to farmyards, are connected by woodland.
The best, and currently only, example of a “national forest” in the UK can be found in the Midlands. From the outskirts of Leicester to Burton upon Trent, around 9.5 million trees have been planted in the National Forest since the 1990s, tripling the woodland cover from 6% to 25%.
What are the benefits of the Western Forest?
It’s been said that the introduction of the Western Forest will improve “the lives of our 2.5 million residents and visitors to the region.” The reasons include environmental, economic, and social benefits – helping the government’s drive towards net zero, promoting economic growth and creating jobs, and improving air and water quality.
Alex Stone, Chief Executive of Forest of Avon, England’s Community Forests, said: “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.”
