A NEW NATIONAL FOREST TAKES ROOT

Project will see 20 million trees planted in England by 2050, to benefit people and wildlife

- James Fair

Plans for a new national forest in the west of England that could cover up to 50,000 hectares by 2050 and involve the planting of 20 million trees have been announced.

The Western Forest will encompass a huge area from Weston-super-Mare and Warminster south of Bristol to Stroud and Chipping Campden in the Cotswolds. It will target five priority areas - which will include a large chunk of the Mendips, and between Swindon and Cirencester - where the aim is to increase woodland cover to 20% by 2030 and to 30% by 2050.