Community woodland and nature area, Shelley Road, Blacon - community engagement

What this engagement is about

The Council would like to hear views on a proposal to create a community woodland and wildlife area on an open area of amenity grassland, adjacent to Shelley Road, Milton Road and Donne Place, in Blacon, Chester.

Shelley Road Amenity Space, Blacon

The amenity grassland adjacent to Shelley Road, in Blacon, is an open space of 1.8 hectares, with wildflower areas and semi mature Hornbeam and Field Maple trees planted along the edge of the site. The sloping nature of the site and lack of facilities restricts use of the space as a sports field. Please see an ariel view below, with a red marker on the Shelley Road Amenity Space.

Site Location: Shelley Road, Blacon, Chester, Cheshire West and Chester, CH1 5TY
Grid Reference: SJ 388 686 WhatThreeWords App Location: soup.mostly.passes

Proposal for a Community Woodland and Nature Area, at Shelley Road Amenity Space

As part of Cheshire West and Chester Council's Tree Strategy, improving people's access to trees (tree equity), the amount of carbon trees store (carbon sequestration) and helping nature recover in our area (nature recovery), the Council would like to create a community woodland and nature area at the Shelley Road Amenity Space, in Blacon.

The Council would like the community to be part of the creation of the space and would involve residents and local groups and organisations in helping to plant trees. The community woodland is proposed to be named the Queen Elizabeth II Community Woodland, as a memorial to Queen Elizabeth II.

The site would remain an open public space for recreation, with the addition of an urban woodland and wildlife area, with specimen trees and with wide grassed footpaths incorporated , to suit the surrounding countryside and wider landscape. Please see the proposed plan for the amenity space below.

Image of a map of the proposed woodland which runs alongside Shelley Road and Milton Road, Blacon


Dark green square = New Tree Planting (young trees 60-90cm in height planted in tree shelters), Light green square = Open Space and Grass Footpaths, Orange Circle = New larger landscape trees (2 - 3 metres tall as focal point and completion of roadside planting), Lime green square = existing trees and hedgerows (privately owned), light blue sqaure = existing wildflower areas, blue line = grass footpaths (circular walk), bright green circle = established line of trees

View the detailed map for the proposed community woodland at Shelley Road, Blacon.

Trees planted would be predominantly native species, with light foliage and colour in specific seasons, and the existing wildflower area would be incorporated into the design. The design compliments an established line of trees and hedgerow on nearby private land.

The planting would consist of two sizes of trees: young trees at a height of around 60-90cm that would be protected for two to three years in tree shelters (see photograph below) and larger trees two to three meters in height, that would be used as specific landscape trees. At 15 years all trees would be at roughly the same height (10-12m).

Funding for the project would be supplied from The Mersey Forest, the area's Community Forest who are working alongside communities and partners to create woodlands and help people explore nature on their doorstep across Cheshire and Merseyside.


Image of newly planted woodland protected by tree guardsExample of a newly planted woodland with tree shelters used to protect the young trees



How to share your views

The Council would like to hear the views of all stakeholders, particularly those who use the amenity space, local residents and community groups and organisations. There are a number of ways you can share your views:

  • By completing a short online survey.
  • Paper copies of the information and survey are available from Blacon Library, or on request using the contact details below.
  • Attend to a drop-in session and come and talk to us about the proposal:
    1. Monday 27 January 2025, 2pm – 5 pm, Blacon Library
    2. Tuesday 28 January 2025, 2pm – 5 pm, Blacon Library
    3. Saturday 1 February 2025, 10.30am -12.30pm, Blacon Library
  • Email your views to: woodland@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk
  • Write to us at: Community Woodland, Cheshire West and Chester Council, Climate Change Team, The Portal, Wellington Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 0BA.
  • Telephone the Council’s Contact Centre on: 0300 123 8123, quoting ‘Shelley Road Community Woodland’
  • You can also request a copy of the consultation in alternative formats, including easy read, using the contact details above.


The community engagement will close on 2 March 2025


How your feedback will be used

Once the community engagement closes, the Council will consider the feedback received to help inform a decision on the proposal.

A summary of the engagement findings will be published on the engagement page of the Council’s website alongside feedback on the decision taken and the next steps.

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