The government is inviting bids from would-be delivery partners for a forest in the north of England, or the Midlands. It has committed £7.5million to supporting the project over the next five years. England already has one new forest dating from the 1990s which covers parts of Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Staffordshire. Now the government is planning three more: in the west of England, the Oxford-Cambridge corridor, and now the Midlands or the North.
Health benefits
The Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the new forest, which would cover between 200 and 600 square miles, would have a particular focus on improving health outcomes for low-income communities. Such groups disproportionately feel the impacts of poor access to green and blue spaces. There is compelling evidence to suggest that access to woodland and green space deliver substantial public health benefits, including:
- better mental health and reduced healthcare costs
- increased physical activity and chronic disease prevention
- cardiovascular benefits and stress relief
- stronger social connections and community engagement
- cognitive development in children and young people
Nature Minister Mary Creagh said: “Too many communities can’t access the green spaces that benefit mental and physical health. This new national forest will help change that, and I encourage every eligible organisation with the vision and expertise to come forward. The National Forest in the Midlands has demonstrated what is possible, planting ten million trees to transform the landscape, increasing tree canopy and woodland cover from 6% to 26%, and supporting more than 5,000 jobs in the visitor economy.”
Milestone
National Forest Company chief executive John Everitt said: “Opening the competition for the third new national forest is a major milestone in accelerating our tree planting ambitions. We are looking forward to seeing some strong applications that can make a real difference for the health and wellbeing of communities across the Midlands and north of England.”
Defra said the government was keen to prioritise locations and approaches that best demonstrate how a richer, more accessible natural environment can improve health and wellbeing for the people who need it most.
The new forest has formed part of the government’s commitment to the largest ever investment in nature, with over £1bn invested in tree planting and support for the forestry sector. The investment would make a significant contribution to the Environment Act targets, including the statutory target to increase tree canopy and woodland cover to 16.5% by 2050. It would also contribute to the government’s target to halt the decline of species and protect 30% of land for nature by 2030, added Defra.
Information on how organisations can apply to be a delivery partner can be found at https://www.find-government-grants.service.gov.uk/grants/new-national-forest—north-and-midlands-1
*This report is based on a press release from Defra.
