Access Fund

We are inviting opportunities to improve public access within Western Forest woodlands. We are seeking proposals that deliver new opportunities for communities to access woodlands and/or improvements to access within existing woodlands.

All applications will be considered, but funding may support projects such as:

• Support to facilitate community events and action
• Enhancing arrival points
• Installation or replacement of gates and stiles
• Clearance of overgrown paths
• Enhancing path drainage
• Design or refreshing of inclusive signage to improve visitor experience
• Installation of benches or communal seating

Projects should ideally support both public access and woodland management. Woodlands must be within the Western Forest priority area. We welcome projects where match funding can be provided, and also encourage proposals that use this as seed funding to access wider grants. Current recipients of our other grants are welcome to apply to enhance their projects.

Investment will be prioritised for larger sites with high visitor numbers and strong community engagement, and where long-term access is enabled.

Please send proposals to Oscar Adams, Western Forest’s Woodland Management Lead at info@westernforest.org.uk