Government launch competition for new National Forest

The Government has launched a competition for a new national forest in England, with communities encouraged to compete for a funding package of up to £10 million to help fund the project. The competition will launch later this year with successful bids due to be announced by autumn 2024.

Applicants will be assessed based on how the new forest would transform the local area, create habitats for wildlife, open up access to the countryside, and help the country meet net-zero targets. 

The creation of this new National Forest is in addition to the creation of new Community Forests in Derbyshire and the Tees Valley, which will see around 370 hectares of woodland planted by 2025.

Further reading

Defra news story: New forest for the nation to improve access to green space