The new pilot launched by the Woodland Trust is an attempt to increase the tiny level of woodland currently in community ownership, building on the work of existing organisations in the region.
Research suggests just 0.2%1 (4,711 hectares) of woodland in the UK is owned by community groups, but also that the proportion of woodland in community ownership is much lower than elsewhere in Europe.
The Trust, supported by lead partner in the project Nationwide Building Society, has a target of working with 50 communities before the end of the pilot to either establish groups or enable them to take ownership of woodland.
The Trust is offering start-up grants of 500 to new groups looking to form in the pilot region, with established groups looking to take on some form of woodland ownership being eligible to apply for a grant of up to 10,000. The charity will also hold a number of training events to help communities build management and engagement skills and has launched a website which provides information and resources for anyone to find out how to set up a group to help manage or acquire an area of woodland.
Beccy Speight, Woodland Trust chief executive, said: “Trees and woods have so many benefits for society but we’re becoming increasingly disconnected from the natural world. The renewal of energy and enthusiasm that training apprentices brings is heart-warming and best of all they get stuck in, both to the woodland work and working for the good of the coppice community, through being actively involved with BHMAT the Coppice Association North West.”
Nationwide is pledging over 1.25 million to support the Woodland Trust’s community woodland pilot. As well as this it will be inspiring, motivating and supporting communities to create, manage, and own their local woods.
Stephen Uden, Nationwide’s Head of Citizenship, said: “Nationwide has long supported a range of community groups and organisations as part of our Living our Your Side strategy and we see woodland use as an important, constructive and healthy way to help bring people together.
“By providing community groups with the financial and practical support they need to plant, manage and take ownership of new woodland spaces, we hope to be able to spark a woodland revolution that will benefit people now and long into the future.”
Nationwide is partnering with the Woodland Trust as part of the Society’s commitment to invest 15m into local communities by 2017 and plant 60,000 trees for each current and future employee and customers that have signed up to receive correspondence electronically.
The pilot is being launched as the Woodland Trust and over 40 other organisations look to create a new grass-roots movement for woods and trees in the form of The Charter for Trees, Woods and People.
