About

Starting with collaboration

A group of people planting trees in a field wearing hi-vis jackets

Built on partnership, growing at scale

Western Forest started as a collaborative idea based in partnership, and its beginning in May 2025 marked a new chapter for trees and woodlands in the West. This new national forest is a landscape-scale effort to connect three important regions: Gloucestershire, Wiltshire and the West of England. Together, we are dedicated to enhancing woodlands and delivering lasting benefits for nature, climate and communities.

A map showing the region of the Western Forest with Cheltenham at the top, reaching down to Weston Super Mare in the South West and Warminster and Devizes in the South East of the map

Our Story

Driven by the climate and nature crisis, we urgently need to reduce carbon emissions and accelerate our tree and woodland cover. We believe in the power of woodlands to connect habitats, people and places. By building on England’s first National Forest in the Midlands and working with our funders and partners, we are boldly responding to these challenges. We aim to inspire change and champion trees as the solution to create, enhance and connect our beautiful region.

Safia Gilder Hodgson from the Western Forest team shows MP Mary Creagh some maps of the planting areas at an event

Celebrating the best of the west

Take a look at the collective action happening as the forest takes root

Explore the Forest
Three people in a field, planting a hedge

Our strategic goals

Our vision is transformed woodlands, farms and communities for the West
Our mission is to create a new national forest by leading action for trees and woodlands.
  • union-tree

    Forest Creation

    Create a “connected and coherent landscape” that grows from our region’s natural heritage and creates a resilient future with trees.

    Plant trees
  • person

    Forest Action

    Enable people living, working and visiting the region to be inspired by, connect to and act for the forest.

    Explore
  • leaf-plant

    Future Forest

    Sustain the forest to continue enhancing our trees and woodlands to 2050.

    Collaborate

Our values

sapling

Bold

We forge ambitious partnerships between farmers, land managers, communities and councils across our region
bird

Trustworthy

We are open, honest and support everyone to play win, win
bulb

Pioneering

With a focus on agroforestry, we are catalysing growth of this effective, sustainable land use technique to help farmers and landscapes thrive
union

Collective Action

We take courageous action together, enabling our communities to win access to nature, tackling both rural and urban injustice
Woodland Survey

Grounded in Evidence

Mapping, science and data drive our focus on results and impact