The Great Western Community Forest offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy woodlands for recreation. Woodlands are robust and absorb people better than open countryside. We hope developing woodlands such as Nightingale Wood, Kingsdown Stratton and Berriman’s Wood will be visited often by people living nearby.

The aim of the Great Western Community Forest is to provide more and better access to woodlands. The project will ensure that woods and forests continue to be used for a wide range of recreational pursuits:

The enjoyment of Walking is evident by the current number of people using the existing woodlands in the area. As more sites are developed we will load each map on to the website to tempt our web surfers to visit a local Community Forest site.

Cycling is a popular activity which provides an opportunity to enjoy the countryside in a unique way. It is non-polluting, promotes good health and is widely affordable. About half the population has access to a bicycle, but less than 5% of leisure journeys are made by bicycle. The Great Western Community Forest provides significant opportunities for off-road cycling.

A key priority for the Community Forest is to provide Access for All. To match our wider aims for sustainable development we want to ensure, wherever possible, that more opportunities for access to woodlands are provided near to people’s homes. We want woodlands to be a part of the everyday lives of people who live and work in towns and cities.