Forests are already popular destinations for leisure and tourism, with over 350 million day visits made to woodlands each year.

The environmental assets of the Northwest are considerable. Our national parks, coastlines, heritage sites and waterfronts bring substantial visitors and income to the region. More than 1.5 million people visit from overseas each year and millions more from within the UK. Forestry plays an increasingly important role in the tourism and leisure mix with over 30 million day visits made to woodlands and forests in the Northwest each year.

For walkers, runners, cyclists, climbers, horse riders, campers and wildlife enthusiasts, The Mersey Forest has a great deal to offer. With four million people living within 20km of the Forest area, the opportunities to provide a local leisure resource are immense. Hundreds of green spaces, wetlands, woodlands and wildflower areas make up the Forest, providing a diverse range of environments for people to visit and explore.

The tourism and recreational value of the Forest will grow as the trees themselves mature. The Mersey Forest already includes visitor centres, hundreds of kilometres of cycle routes and walking trails and hosts hundreds of arts and cultural events each year. The Forest provides a breathing space, new environments to discover and an escape from the pressures of urban life. The challenge is to continue to encourage all sectors of the community and visitors to explore and enjoy the Forest.

To find out how this work fits into The Mersey Forest's strategy, click here.