Potential for Woodland Creation in England

The Forestry Commission and Natural England are seeking views on the potential for woodland creation in landscapes over the next 50 years.

These views will help them to identify where there may be opportunities to meet national objectives to create more woodland, and to build up a picture of what is possible over the long term, so that support and interventions can be targeted. Decisions on the ground will of course remain the choice of owners and be subject to appropriate local consultation and assessment.

They are asking for comments on ‘woodland creation potential’ for each of England’s National Character Areas, as mapped by Natural England. This will help to capture the views of local people and allow communities to inform them about local character and the features which they value most within their landscape.

They value all feedback and hope that this opportunity will be communicated to respond widely within organisation and to others, as appropriate. To further support this exercise, Forestry Commission Area Directors will also be making contact with the partnerships and organisations they work with, and the England Woodland and Timber Partnership will also help them to get the messages out and the feedback in.

The web-based response form and associated information and documentation, including links to the Woodland Potential Calculator, are available at http://www.forestry.gov.uk/england-wpcresponse. Feedback is requested by Wednesday 31 October so that it can be used to inform thinking on the Government’s response to the Independent Panel on Forestry recommendations on woodland expansion (http://www.defra.gov.uk/forestrypanel/reports/).  However, responses received before the end December 2012 will still be very useful.

It is hoped organisations are able to provide their thoughts on the potential for woodland creation in England over the next 50 years.