£30m funding boost could transform woodland across South Devon and Dartmoor

Up to one million trees could be planted in the Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest over the next 20 years after almost £30 million in Government funding was secured.

The forest, which covers parts of South Devon and the Dartmoor area, as well as Plymouth, secured funding for tree planting, woodland creation and the management of existing woodlands across the region.

Plymouth City Council will act as the lead partner and accountable body for the forest partnership, which is supported through the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and England’s Community Forests network.

The investment will also contribute to Plymouth’s plans to plant more street trees, improve green spaces and increase access to nature.

Since the community forest was launched in 2021, more than 500,000 trees have been planted across the region using £14.2 million in earlier external funding, according to the council.

More than 5,000 trees were planted in Plymouth during the most recent planting season.

Rather than one large area of woodland, the forest consists of a network of projects, including street trees, community orchards, school forests, tree planting on farms and larger woodland creation schemes.

The partnership adopted a 25-year forest plan earlier this year, setting out its ambition to create 3,000 hectares of new woodland and bring existing woodlands into sustainable management by 2050.

It also aims to support 1,000 woodland and forestry jobs by that year, including roles in tree growing, woodland management, timber work and forestry.

The partnership includes Plymouth City Council, the National Trust, the Woodland Trust and local councils across Devon.

Councillor Tom Briars-Delve, Plymouth City Council’s Cabinet Member for the Environment and Climate Change, said the funding would help the partnership continue its work.

“This funding is fantastic news for Plymouth and the wider region and gives us the certainty needed to continue delivering one of the country's most successful community forest programmes.”

He said tree planting could help improve biodiversity, reduce flood risk and create greener places for people to live, while providing opportunities for volunteering, training and employment.

Thousands of people have taken part in planting days, woodland care and other community projects, alongside farmers, landowners, schools and environmental organisations.

The partnership says its work is intended to improve habitats and access to nature while helping communities respond to climate change.