A new national forest spanning from the Cotswolds to the Mendips will blanket a significant portion of western England, the government has announced.
Dubbed the "Western Forest", the project aims to create 2,500 hectares of new woodland by 2030, planting 20 million trees by 2050.
This ambitious initiative will focus on five key areas across Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Somerset, and Bristol.
This marks the first new national forest in three decades, following the establishment of the National Forest in the Midlands.
The government has stated this is the first step towards fulfilling its manifesto commitment of creating three new national forests across the country.
The Western Forest is designed to bring nature closer to urban centres like Bristol, Gloucester, and Swindon, offering residents greater access to green spaces.
The project's core objectives include increasing woodland and tree cover to support wildlife, combat climate change, and enhance public access to nature.
With nearly three-quarters of the planned forest’s area (73 per cent) being farmland, part of the project will look to integrate trees into the farmed landscape through agroforestry and farm woodlands, which can regenerate soil and protect against drought and flood while producing food.
The project will also work to revitalise existing woodlands and other important natural habitats, Environment Department (Defra) officials said.
In addition to 2,500 hectares of new woodland, there are plans to bring 1,500 hectares (3,700 acres) of woodland into sustainable management by 2030.
The Western Forest will be spearheaded by the Forest of Avon, one of England’s community forests, and supported by up to £7.5 million of Government funding over five years, Defra said.
The funding will help create new woodland that connects existing established woods as well creating mixed habitat and supporting community planting, in locations where it can help nature recover and trees can contribute to alleviating floods and slowing flows of water in storms.
The project also involves England’s Community Forests, West of England Combined Authority, local authorities, the National Trust, the Wildlife Trusts, Cotswolds and Mendips National Landscape, and the Forestry Commission.
The National Forest Company, which manages the existing National Forest in the Midlands, will support the new forest’s project team.
Nature Minister Mary Creagh said: “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 the Forest of Avon trust, said the project would enhance landscapes and improve the lives of the region’s 2.5 million residents, as well as visitors to the area.
She added: “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.”
National Forest chief executive John Everitt added: “This initiative builds on the success of the National Forest in the Midlands, where planting more than 9.8 million trees has transformed the landscape, benefiting wildlife, communities and the economy.
“The Western Forest was selected because of its ability to demonstrate a similar scale of ambition, with trees and woods supporting growth and farming while enhancing nature’s recovery and access to green space.”
Belfast named UK’s biggest pub music scene outside London
British playwright embarks on 150-mile fasting pilgrimage for Palestine
Historian studying India faces deportation from UK for spending too long in India
When will Heathrow airport reopen? Everything we know about Hayes fire
Starmer not moving away from having UK ground forces in Ukraine, says Miliband
Prince of Wales meets troops on visit to military base in Estonia
