New Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest is a major step towards carbon net zero goals for city and England 

The creation of Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest has been announced today by Defra, England’s Community Forests and Plymouth City Council as part of a government drive to see tree planting rates treble in England by the end of this Parliament.  

This new project will be the first newly created Community Forest supported through the Nature for Climate Fund (NCF) and join England’s Community Forest network. The scheme will receive NCF funding to develop canopy cover across the city and plant up to 500ha of woodland by 2025, which is expected to more than treble in size to 1600ha by 2034. Plymouth will plant up to 25ha in the first year of this project and receive up to £480,000 in funding from the NCF funded Trees for Climate. 

Green jobs, training and skill development will come from the project for young people, who will be invited to lead on aspects of the new Community Forest, from naming it to developing its design, management and strategy.  

Under Defra’s England Trees Action Plan, this project is the first of at least three new Community Forests to be created in areas most at need and is in line with the ambition to meet net zero emissions by 2050 – by 2025 England’s Community Forests will contribute over 6,700ha to woodland creation ambitions.  The project also supports Plymouth City Council’s Plan for Trees scheme, which aims to help trees in urban areas become fit for purpose, resilient to the challenges of climate change and disease, and adaptable to whatever new challenges the future may hold. 

Forestry Minister Lord Goldsmith said:  “I am delighted to welcome Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest to the Community Forest network. Joining this network will enable Plymouth and South Devon to receive key support from the Nature for Climate Fund through Trees for Climate funding to plant trees and help rewild areas that are most in need. The health and wellbeing benefits are some of the most important reasons we need to be making more space for trees.”  

Paul Nolan, Chair, England’s Community Forests: said:  "We are really pleased to welcome Plymouth and South Devon into the Community Forest family. England’s Community Forests have been transforming the landscapes and communities in and around our largest towns and cities for 30 years.  In that time, we have always been committed to sharing the powerful principles of community forestry as widely as possible so millions of people can experience the many benefits of trees and woodland.  Today’s announcement marks another exciting chapter in the story of community forestry across England and for the area of Plymouth and South Devon.  

"Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest will create space for nature, encourage enterprise and support the area’s commitment to tackle climate change. Joining the powerful partnership of 10 established Community Forests across the country will support these ambitions, enabling local people and partners to achieve truly transformational environmental and social change.” 

Councillor Patrick Nicholson, Deputy Leader of Plymouth City Council, said:   "We are thrilled to be joining the Community Forest family and excited for the many benefits that it will bring Plymouth and the surrounding area.  

"The forest chimes a chord with so many of the aspirations we're trying to achieve economically, environmentally and for health and wellbeing here in Plymouth and I'm excited to get started on the next stage."  

As hosts of COP26, President of the G7 and a key player in the CBD COP15, the UK is leading the climate change agenda. Nature is our most precious asset and it sits at the heart of the world’s goods and services. We need to fundamentally change how we view the economic value of nature if we are to reverse biodiversity loss. Our economies, livelihoods and well-being all rely on nature. Plymouth Community Forest recognise this and have put an emphasis on the value trees and green space add to the mental health of local residents. 

The news follows the recent announcement of funding for the Forest of Cornwall, a partnership between Cornwall Council and Defra to help identify sites in Cornwall for woodland creation and bring local stakeholders on board.