UK Government Plans to Plant First National Forest in 30 years

In March 2025, the UK government announced plans to create a new national forest stretching from the Cotswolds to the Mendips. 

The Western Forest will see 20 million trees planted across the West of England in the coming years, creating at least 2,500 hectares of new woodland, contributing to the Government’s statutory green cover. The target is to increase tree and woodland cover to 16.5% of England by 2050. 

The Western Forest will shape a greener, more connected landscape with trees and woodlands at its heart, with the vision to deliver a resilient future that will benefit the economy, nature and both rural and urban communities. 

The forest will serve over 2.5 million residents, bringing trees and woodlands closer to where people live, including in urban centres such as Bristol, Gloucester and Swindon.

With over 73% of the new national forest’s land use being agricultural, the Western Forest creates a huge opportunity to support farmers across the region to integrate trees into the farmed landscape through agroforestry and farm woodlands. 

The tree habitats offer a range of benefits, they can regenerate the soil and improve resilience to flooding and drought, delivering multiple environmental, economic, and social benefits, without compromising food production, supporting the Government’s Land Use Framework.

The Western Forest will be spearheaded by the Forest of Avon, one of England’s Community Forests, supported by up to £7.5 million of government funding over five years alongside accelerating tree-planting in local areas.

The project will work to revitalise existing woodlands and other important habitats to create a forest network for people and wildlife at a truly landscape scale.  

The new national forest will help the drive to net zero while promoting economic growth and creating jobs in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and across the West of England, as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.

It will also help us meet nature and legal environment targets, including halting the decline of species and protecting 30% of land for nature by 2030.

On the occasion, Nature Minister Mary Creagh said, “The Government was elected on a mandate to plant three new national forests this parliament, as part of our commitment to reach net zero and drive sustainable growth under the Government’s Plan for Change. We will plant 20 million trees in the Western Forest to bring nature closer to people, prevent flooding and support wildlife.”

Alex Stone, Chief Executive of Forest of Avon, England’s Community Forests, said, “The Forest of Avon is thrilled to have led a wonderfully diverse and engaged partnership to bring the Western Forest to life. This is about resource, funding and expertise coming directly to landowners, partners and communities, planting millions of trees in the right places. Together, we will enhance landscapes for all to enjoy, improving the lives of our 2.5 million residents and visitors to the region.  

The Western Forest will include cutting-edge communications, new collaborations between stakeholders and landowners, and transformational pilot programmes around volunteering, health, education and access.   

The National Forest Company, who manage the National Forest, will provide expertise and mentorship to the Western Forest project team.

The company has a proven track record of 30 years of successful woodland creation, transforming a post-industrial landscape into a thriving network of towns and villages with tree and woodland cover having increased from 6% to more than 25%, set within the National Forest.