Bumper tree planting season is delivering for people, nature and climate

The Mersey Forest is celebrating a bumper planting season and the launch of their new Forest Plan – More with Trees this summer, following a busy year creating more green spaces across Cheshire and Merseyside.

In the past year alone, partners, landowners and local communities have worked alongside The Mersey Forest to help establish 247 hectares of new woodland across Cheshire and Merseyside – that’s the equivalent of 381 football pitches.

The new woodlands include over 1,360 street trees, 2.3km of hedges, trees planted in 14 schools across the area and 78 ha of new woodland planted at Lunt in Sefton, as part of a partnership with the National Trust, Sefton Council, Lancashire Wildlife Trust, the Environment Agency and Forestry England.

As the area’s Community Forest, The Mersey Forest’s work is guided by their Forest Plan, with the latest version launched in May at The Museum of Liverpool.

The day brought together inspiring and diverse speakers and delegates, including local authorities, landowners, community organisations, academics and businesses who shared insights into how much has been achieved to date and how much more is possible when we act together.

The Plan builds on decades of work, reflecting the shared values, ambitions and practical steps needed to enrich people’s lives and livelihoods, help nature flourish, and strengthen climate resilience.

The new woodlands and trees established this year added to the organisation’s tree tally over the last 30 years, has seen The Mersey Forest reach a milestone moment this spring by planting their 10 millionth tree at the new site in Lunt, Sefton.

Paul Nolan, Director of The Mersey Forest, said: “The past year has been a wonderful celebration of what it means to be a Community Forest. From creating large woodlands with partners such as the National Trust, to working with local businesses or community groups who are helping us to maintain woodlands in our area.

“Each tree, woodland and habitat created in The Mersey Forest is helping to build greener communities and create spaces that benefit people, nature and strengthen the area’s climate resilience.

“Our new Forest Plan sets out how we’ll continue to work with communities to deliver more with trees for the next 25 years and beyond, inspiring action and spreading hope for the next generation.”

Every tree planted in Cheshire and Merseyside is helping to grow The Mersey Forest and the larger Northern Forest that stretches from Liverpool to the Yorkshire coast.

The woodlands and trees established throughout The Mersey Forest have been funded through the Government’s Trees for Climate and Grow Back Greener programmes, part of Defra’s Nature for Climate Fund.

The Mersey Forest is part of England’s Community Forests, a diverse and growing network of 15 forests each working in partnership with their local communities, landowners, and businesses to help nature recover and regenerate the landscapes in and around our largest towns and cities. The network has planted over 8 million trees across the country since the Trees for Climate programme began five years ago – that’s 35% of all government-funded tree planting since 2020.

Community woodland takes root at Toolerstone, Cheshire

A much-loved creative retreat in Cheshire has entered a new chapter this year as it has transformed into a flourishing greenspace, including a new woodland and wildflower meadow. A total of over 6,700 trees were planted across the 3.75 hectare site with the local community and school children playing a key role to help get them in the ground in February this year. The trees planted will support local wildlife, improve soil quality and absorb an estimated 1,312 tonnes of carbon over time. Read more about the Toolerstone planting project.

Over the next 12 months The Mersey Forest will be continuing to work with local landowners to establish woodland and trees on their land, implement Natural Flood Management initiatives to help communities at risk of flooding and work alongside those working in education to help them make the most of the green space in their schools and connect more young people with nature.

The Mersey Forest also hosted an Investing in Nature conference recently, where 150 leaders from business, government, academia and the third sector explored how the natural environment can drive economic growth, resilience and wellbeing across the region, an area of work The Mersey Forest team continues to develop.

The Mersey Forest can offer free support, advice and funding to landowners across Cheshire and Merseyside who would like to incorporate trees on their land. Visit: merseyforest.org.uk or email: mail@merseyforest.org.uk for more information.