Community Forests in the South-west

The Community Forests in the South West are making significant contributions to enhancing quality of life. This is demonstrated across the two Forests by:

• Reaching out and involving thousands of local people in valuing and managing their local environment, creating a sense of community and belonging.
• Working with landowners, farmers and planners to create woodland for wildlife, leisure, reduced CO2 and pollutants and a more attractive landscape close to where people live; in the past 12 years 1500ha of woodlands have been planted.
• Helping people adapt to an exploit the changes brought through urban extension and changes in agriculture.
• Providing 750km of improved public access routes over the past 12 years - creating better networks for leisure, access to schools, healthy living and reduced car dependance.
• Helping deliver gorvernment policies in and around two major regional centres.

The Great Western Community Forest and Forest of Avon are also working together to ensure there are co-ordinated responses to regional consultation documents and joint promotional activities where possible.