SALISBURY and surrounding areas will be part of a new Western Forest, the government has announced.

A new national forest, stretching from the Cotswolds to the Mendips and beyond, is set to be created by planting 20 million trees across the West of England.

In the coming decades, the project will create at least 2,500 hectares of new woodland.

The scheme is part of a government manifesto pledge, which committed to creating three new national forests.

The Western Forest will serve more than 2.5 million residents, the government said, bringing trees and woodlands closer to where people live, including in urban centres such as Bristol, Gloucester and Swindon.

A map detailing the forest includes Somerset areas such as Weston-Super-Mare, the Mendip Hills, and Bath, as well as Mere and Salisbury in Wiltshire.

The Western Forest will cover parts of Somerset. Picture: Forest of Avon Trust

It will be spearheaded by the Forest of Avon, one of England’s Community Forests, supported by up to £7.5 million of government funding over five years alongside accelerating tree-planting.

Nature Minister Mary Creagh said the new forest will help the drive to net zero while promoting economic growth and creating jobs in Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and across the West of England, as part of the Government’s Plan for Change.

“The Government was elected on a mandate to plant three new national forests this parliament, as part of our commitment to reach net zero and drive sustainable growth under the Government’s Plan for Change,” she said.

“We will plant 20 million trees in the Western Forest to bring nature closer to people, prevent flooding and support wildlife.”

Alex Stone, chief executive of Forest of Avon, England’s Community Forests, said: “The Forest of Avon is thrilled to have led a wonderfully diverse and engaged partnership to bring the Western Forest to life.

“This is about resource, funding and expertise coming directly to landowners, partners and communities, planting millions of trees in the right places.

“Together, we will enhance landscapes for all to enjoy, improving the lives of our 2.5 million residents and visitors to the region.

“Encompassing two of England’s Community Forests and working alongside the National Forest Company and Defra, the Western Forest will enhance, connect and improve our urban and rural landscapes, support investment into the region, create jobs and skills opportunities and bring the endless benefits we get back from planting and caring for our trees.

“It is a very exciting time for this region, and we look forward to helping shape what the Western Forest will become.”

The National Forest Company, who manage the National Forest, will provide expertise and mentorship to the Western Forest project team.

Chief executive, John Everitt OBE, said: “The National Forest Company is delighted to see the announcement of the Western Forest as the first of the government’s new national forest commitments.

“This initiative builds on the success of the National Forest in the Midlands, where planting more than 9.8 million trees has transformed the landscape, benefitting wildlife, communities and the economy.

“The Western Forest was selected because of its ability to demonstrate a similar scale of ambition, with trees and woods supporting growth and farming while enhancing nature’s recovery and access to green space.”