The Western Forest project aims to create a transformative landscape creating 2,500 hectares of new woodland and serving 2.5 million people.

The initiative focuses on enhancing nature recovery, conserving cultural heritage, and increasing community engagement. Managing ancient woodlands and integrating agroforestry practices are also key features of the initiative.

By 2050, the Western Forest aims to exceed the government's tree cover target to achieve 20% canopy coverage across the region, creating lasting ecological, social, and economic benefits for the region.

LUC's green finance report identified multiple funding streams to support the project's ambitious goals, including:

• Public funding opportunities, such as the Nature for Climate Fund
• Philanthropic and Corporate Social Responsibility investments
• Private investment options from sustainability-focused funds
• Payments for ecosystem services including woodland carbon and nutrient mitigation

Our team highlighted innovative approaches to combine these funding sources while navigating regulatory requirements, helping to identify opportunities to secure blended finance for the project's long-term success.

It is particularly heartening that Western Forest will be able to draw upon other work undertaken by LUC in the region focusing on identifying land that has the potential for woodland planting at a strategic landscape scale.

This includes ongoing projects for The Forest of Avon in the West of England (Bath and North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset) and the Cotswolds National Landscape.

LUC’s mapping work to identify opportunities for woodland planting is complemented by a pioneering approach to tree and woodland landscape sensitivity assessment – the combination of the two bodies of evidence designed to encourage and enable the planting of the right trees and woodland in the right places.   

The Western Forest will be supported by the National Forest Company throughout the implementation period providing invaluable expertise and support.

With funding secured, the Western Forest project will now move into its implementation phase.

LUC will continue to monitor this exciting project as it develops, bringing transformative change to landscapes across the West of England and look forward to helping shape what the West Forest will become.

For more information about LUC's GIS, landscape planning and green finance services, please contact our team.