A new national forest stretching from the Cotswolds to the Mendips is set to be created, the Government has announced. The Western Forest will see 20 million trees planted across the West of England in the coming decades, creating at least 2,500 hectares of new woodland.

The Western Forest will be spearheaded by the Forest of Avon, one of England’s Community Forests supported by up to £7.5m of Government funding over five years alongside accelerating tree-planting in local areas. The project will work to revitalise existing woodlands and other important habitats.

Alex Stone, chief executive of Forest of Avon, England’s Community Forests, said: “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.”

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