Staffordshire woodland will restore nature, tackle the climate crisis, give local communities access to green space and contribute to a sustainable timber supply.
Photo Forestry England/Crown Copyright
Forestry England is creating a landmark 303-hectare woodland in Staffordshire, the largest it has planted in more than 20 years. The new woodland, near the village of Abbots Bromley, will be called Bagots Park Wood, and is the latest site bought by Forestry England to expand the nation’s forests in their care.
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Bagots Park Wood is being designed from the ground up to support nature recovery and join up with existing nearby woodland. Once established, it will connect vital habitats already supporting much-loved wildlife species including all three native newts, bats, badgers, a wide range of woodland birds, and plants such as the spotted marsh orchid.
Using extensive site surveys and the latest climate science, Forestry England will plant a mix of carefully selected tree species and weave open spaces throughout the site. This approach will create a mosaic of habitats able to adapt and thrive in a rapidly changing climate. As the woodland grows, it will also lock up carbon, support wildlife, and eventually contribute to a sustainable timber supply as part of the UK’s green economy.
Once the new woodland is established, Forestry England will open up a total of more than 600 hectares of woodland for local people to explore. This will include Bagots Park Wood, as well as over 300 hectares of additional land at the neighbouring Bagot Forest, which is already managed by Forestry England but has not previously been open to the public. With access to both sites, local people will be able to explore new and mature woodland side by side.
Paddy Harrop, Central Director, Forestry England, said:
“Creating a woodland on this scale is a rare and exciting moment for us. It’s not since before 2005 that we’ve had an opportunity on this scale, and this project represents a major investment in the future of Staffordshire’s natural landscapes.
“Every place we plant with trees is unique. We’re looking carefully at the soil, habitats, historic features of the landscape and other important factors before we design this special woodland. We’ll share our draft designs with local people and other stakeholders in due course and hear their views. Local people can look forward to spending time in this new woodland which will be a lasting natural asset for generations.”
Forestry England is now beginning its detailed planning and will work closely with local communities and organisations as proposals take shape. Draft designs will be shared later this year as part of a public consultation to help residents shape how this important new woodland grows.
The project is funded through the government’s Nature for Climate Fund and forms part of Forestry England’s wider programme to create new, climate-resilient woodlands across the country. Since 2021 they have planted more than 2 million trees across 17 new woodlands covering more than 1,140 hectares. Each woodland is designed to withstand the threats from climate change, pests and diseases, and biodiversity collapse so they flourish in the future.
You can find out more on Forestry England’s website: www.forestryengland.uk/article/bagots-park-wood
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