A new Community Forest to bring transformational change to Plymouth and South Devon

The creation of Plymouth Community Forest has been announced today by Defra, England’s Community Forests and Plymouth City Council; the first newly created Community Forest supported through the Nature for Climate (NFC) Fund.

The Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest will stretch from the heart of the city to the edge of the moor, encompassing 1,900 hectares of land to form a mosaic of different forest habitats.

Plymouth Community Forest will join England’s Community Forest network, and become the 11th Community Forest across the country. It will receive up to £480,000 in funding through Trees for Climate; the Community Forests programme that is supported through the NCF fund.

 
Poole Farm - Tree Planting

Poole Farm Tree Planting - Chris Parkes Photography

The new community forest will develop canopy cover across the city and plant up to 500ha of woodland by 2025, which is expected to more than treble in size to 1600ha by 2034. Plymouth will plant up to 25ha in Yr.1 of this project.

Plymouth Community Forest will also benefit the area economically, environmentally and through improvements to local people’s health and wellbeing. 353 jobs will be created in the first ten years, including apprenticeships across a broad range of roles. The extra trees will increase capture carbon/Co2 by 83% from current levels once fully established, helping the Plymouth area in its mission to become carbon neutral by 2030. The health benefits of the new green spaces are estimated to equate to around £5.7 million per year.

The project also supports Plymouth City Council’s Plan for Trees scheme, which aims to help trees in urban areas become fit for purpose, resilient to the challenges of climate change and disease, and adaptable to whatever new challenges the future may hold.

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“Plymouth Community Forest will create space for nature, encourage enterprise and support the area’s commitment to tackle climate change.”

- Paul Nolan, Chair, England’s Community Forests

 

This exciting new project is being funded by the Government as part of its pledge to deliver 30,000ha of tree planting across the UK by the end of this Parliament; part of a drive to see tree planting rates treble in England in the same timeframe. England’s community forests will make up over 6,700ha of the planting aspirations.

This project is the first of three Community Forests to be created in areas most at need.

“I am delighted to welcome Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest to the Community Forest network. Joining this network will enable Plymouth and South Devon to receive key support from the Nature for Climate Fund through Trees for Climate funding to plant trees and help rewild areas that are most in need. The health and wellbeing benefits are some of the most important reasons we need to be making more space for trees.”

– Forestry Minister Lord Goldsmith

“We are really pleased to welcome Plymouth into the Community Forest family. England’s Community Forests have been transforming the landscapes and communities in and around our largest towns and cities for 30 years. In that time, we have always been committed to sharing the powerful principles of community forestry as widely as possible so millions of people can experience the many benefits of trees and woodland. Today’s announcement marks another exciting chapter in the story of community forestry across England and for the area of Plymouth and South West Devon.

“Plymouth Community Forest will create space for nature, encourage enterprise and support the area’s commitment to tackle climate change. Joining the powerful partnership of 10 established Community Forests across the country will support these ambitions, enabling local people and partners to achieve truly transformational environmental and social change.”

– Paul Nolan, Director of The Mersey Forest and the Chair of England’s Community Forests

“We are thrilled to be joining the Community Forest family and excited for the many benefits that it will bring Plymouth and the surrounding area. 

“The forest chimes a chord with so many of the aspirations we're trying to achieve economically, environmentally and for health and wellbeing here in Plymouth and I'm excited to get started on the next stage.”

– Councillor Patrick Nicholson, Deputy Leader of Plymouth City Council

About England’s Community Forests

England’s Community Forests are located in and around our largest towns and cities. Collectively, they form the country’s biggest environmental regeneration initiative and are highlighted as part of the government’s 25 Year Plan for the Environment.

For thirty years the forests have delivered urban, economic and social regeneration, championing green infrastructure and creating high-quality environments for millions of people.

The Forests are within reach of 50% of the population of England and in areas where community forestry can have the most socio-economic impact.

Together they have:

  • Planted over 15,000 hectares of new woodland

  • Brought over 27,000 hectares of existing woodland under management

  • Created over 25,000 hectares of non-woodland habitat

  • Opened up 16,000 hectares of woods and green space for recreation and leisure

  • Restored or built over 4,000 kilometres of footpath, bridleways and cycle routes

  • And created and restored nearly 3,000km of hedgerows

The forests are located as follows:

  • The Forest of Marston Vale, Bedfordshire;

  • Great Western Community Forest, covering Swindon and its surrounds from the North Wessex Downs to the River Thames;

  • The Greenwood Community Forest, west Nottinghamshire;

  • The Mersey Forest, which covers Merseyside and Cheshire;

  • City of Trees, Greater Manchester;

  • Forest of Avon Trust, which covers Bristol, Bath and the West of England;

  • HEYwoods, which covers Kingston upon Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire;

  • Thames Chase Trust, which covers East London and South West Essex;

  • The White Rose Forest, which covers North and West Yorkshire;

  • Forest of Mercia, which covers Staffordshire and the West Midlands; and

  • Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest, which covers Plymouth and South Devon.

Trees for Climate has also been co-ordinated and supported by The Community Forest Trust, the national charity for community forestry and is being delivered through Cheshire West and Chester Council, the accountable body for the programme. Work is being carried out to investigate further new Community Forest programmes by 2025.

For more on the Community Forests please visit https://englandscommunityforests.org.uk

Jo Gamble