The Mersey Forest receives grant of £1.3M from the Green Recovery Challenge Fund
The Mersey Forest's 'More From Trees' project will receive funding from the second round of the Green Recovery Challenge Fund, a multi-million pound boost for green jobs and nature recovery.
The money will be used to boost nature recovery and connect more people to nature in Merseyside and Cheshire. Through the Community Forest Trust the Mersey Forest will receive £1,326,700 to deliver 'More From Trees'.
The programme will improve biodiversity by creating new green corridors in Liverpool city centre, develop a specialist tree nursery for native tree species, improve habitats for a range of species, and deploy natural flood management in two catchments in Cheshire.
The project will also create a new green task force of retrained military veterans, and offer a range of nature-based activities to improve the health and well-being of local people.
'More from Trees' is one of ninety nature projects across England that have been awarded grants ranging from £68,100 to £1,950,000. Among them they aim to create and retain more than 1,000 green jobs, backed by the Government's £80 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund.
'More from Trees' is one of ninety nature projects across England aiming to create and retain more than 1,000 green jobs, backed by the Government's £80 million Green Recovery Challenge Fund.
“This support via the Green Recovery Challenge Fund will help us to deliver a portfolio of ambitious nature-boosting projects across Merseyside and Cheshire.
From creating pollinator corridors around Liverpool City Centre, improving habitats within Bold Forest Park, to connecting more than 1000 people with nature-based activities, the programme will help us to work in partnership to deliver key elements of the Mersey Forest Plan. It will see us harnessing the wide range of benefits trees and woodlands can provide.”
– Mersey Forest Director, Paul Nolan OBE
The Green Recovery Challenge Fund is a key part of the Prime Minister's 10-point plan to kick-start nature recovery and tackle climate change. Connecting people with nature is another priority theme: by increasing access to nature and greenspaces, projects will support both physical and mental wellbeing.
“Our environmental and conservation charity sector does an incredible job in protecting, improving and restoring the natural environment for the benefit of communities and the economy.”
– Natural England Chair, Tony Juniper
The Government's Green Recovery Challenge Fund was developed by Defra and its Arm's-Length Bodies. The fund is being delivered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund in partnership with Natural England, the Environment Agency and Forestry Commission.
“From wetland restoration, to creating wildlife-rich habitat for bees, it is vital that we value, protect and rebuild our natural heritage. This new funding will not only allow projects to carry out direct conservation which is essential in protecting our biodiversity, but it will increase awareness of how and why we need to change our behaviours in order to protect our future.”
– Ros Kerslake, Chief Executive, National Lottery Heritage Fund
The Mersey Forest will deliver it's 'More From Trees' project, with a wide range of partners including the Community Forest Trust, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, the PATT Foundation, Liverpool City Council and Liverpool John Moore's University.
Money raised by the National Lottery is used to inspire, lead and resource the UK's heritage to create positive and lasting change for people and communities, now and in the future. More information can be found here www.heritagefund.org.uk
About England’s Community Forests network
Nationally, this is the second new joiner to England’s Community Forests network this year. Under Defra’s England Trees Action Plan, this project is one of at least three new Community Forests to be created in areas most at need and is in line with the ambition to meet net zero emissions by 2050 – by 2025 England’s Community Forests will contribute over 6,700ha to woodland creation ambitions.
The North East Community Forest Partnership involves Newcastle City Council, Durham County Council, Gateshead Council, North Tyneside Council, South Tyneside Council, and Sunderland City Council.
They are supported by Northumberland County Council, which runs the Great Northumberland Forest; the North of Tyne and North East combined authorities; the Woodland Trust, Wildlife Trusts, Forestry Commission England, Natural England, Environment Agency and National Trust; and the North East England Climate Coalition, North East England Nature Partnership and Groundwork.
To manage the new project a Forest Manager and Community Woodland Officer will be employed and, over the next 12 months, they will be tasked – with the support of the NECF partnership - with producing a Forest Plan, identifying where trees might be planted and consulting communities on their arboreal aspirations. This plan will then go out to full public consultation.
The six authorities have committed £75,000 a year towards the costs of this new forest team, with match funding from the Trees for Climate Fund, and the team will then look to secure additional funding from other sources.
England’s Community Forests are located in and around our largest towns and cities and they co-ordinate accessible woodland creation projects designed to deliver a wide range of public benefits and involve local people. 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 Community Forests have delivered urban, economic and social regeneration, championing green infrastructure and creating high-quality environments for millions of people.
The England’s Community Forests network includes: The Forest of Marston Vale; Great Western Community Forest; The Greenwood Community Forest; The Mersey Forest; Manchester City of Trees; Forest of Avon Trust; HEYwoods; Thames Chase Trust; White Rose Forest; the Forest of Mercia; Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest and most recently the new North East Community Forest.
England’s Community Forests are supported by the national charity the Community Forest Trust (CFT). CFT is the national charity for the community forestry network and aims to secure more investment for community forestry, ensuring a green future for all. It is supporting England’s Community Forests in the delivery of the Trees for Climate programme.
The Trees for Climate programme launched in December 2020, with the announcement of £12.1million of funding through the Government’s Nature for Climate Fund. In the first year of the programme, Trees for Climate has seen trees planted in Community Forests right across the country. When mature, these will eventually store over 100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, playing an important role in the meeting the government’s net zero emissions by 2050 target.
Trees for Climate is delivered by England’s Community Forests and support by the Community Forest Trust and Cheshire West and Chester Council, who are the accountable body for the programme.
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