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Almost 10 million trees have been established in The Mersey Forest since 1991

Did you know?

Almost 10 million trees have been established in The Mersey Forest since 1991

Did you know?

Almost 10 million trees have been established in The Mersey Forest since 1991

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Celebrating 30 years of The Mersey Forest

15th October 2024

The Mersey Forest is celebrating a milestone anniversary 30 years after the first forest plan was developed for the area.

Mersey Forest at 30 (l to r) Paul Nolan, Lady Redmond, Cllr Gittins, John Handley, Prof Eunice Simmons

Partners and friends of the forest came together last week at the University of Chester to celebrate the occasion and reflect on how the Mersey Forest partnership has been instrumental in transforming the landscape of Merseyside and Cheshire over the last three decades.

The Mersey Forest is the area’s Community Forest, covering all of Merseyside and Cheshire, and is one of the original Community Forests created across England. There are now 15 Community Forests across the country which are all made up of a mix of community woodland, private woodland, urban trees and greenspaces, wooded habitat corridors and hedgerows.

The Mersey Forest Partnership, which includes local authorities, national agencies, non-governmental organisations and the community, is the driving force behind the Mersey Forest, working in partnership with The Mersey Forest team in developing the Forest Plan which sets the direction for the organisation.

Mersey Forest local community achievements

The Mersey Forest is focused around local communities with projects, large and small, touching the lives of many. Some of the achievements of the forest over the last 30 years include:

  • Nearly 10 million trees planted across Merseyside and Cheshire
  • Created 600 kilometres of accessible pathways through 10,000 hectares of thriving habitat
  • 42,000 community events held
  • Brought in over £150 million of external funding
  • Developed and delivered the award-winning Natural Health Service
  • Developed the innovative Thrive Programme with Liverpool John Moores University, supporting curriculum-based use of the natural environment
  • Developed programmes that store 2 million litres of water in the Mersey Catchment above communities at risk, helping to reduce flooding

 

Paul Nolan, who has worked at The Mersey Forest since 1994, and is the current Director, said:

It's been fantastic to be part of the Mersey Forest's journey over the last 30 years, working alongside so many people who share the same ambition to deliver a greener future for the communities of Merseyside and Cheshire. Although we've made massive progress, planting millions of trees in the area, that is only one element of what we do. The stories of the impact we have on peoples' lives is really what makes community forestry special. Whether it is a life saved through the Natural Health Service or the people who've benefited from our Trees for Learning project, or even the homes that don't flood because of natural flood management initiatives, connecting people with nature is central to our work. Planting a tree is a symbol of hope and I hope the forest continues to bring joy to local people, making the places we live, work and visit vibrant and sustainable communities.

Professor Eunice Symmons, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Chester and Chair of the Mersey Forest Steering Group, said:

The strength of the Mersey Forest Partnership comes from its local authority representatives working closely with community partners and an outstanding Mersey Forest team. Together they are dedicated to transforming residents' environments and life chances.

Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council, who is the host authority for the Mersey Forest, said:

Cheshire West and Chester Council is proud to be the host authority for The Mersey Forest, one of the north west's leading environmental initiatives. The scale of the work that has been achieved by the team and The Mersey Forest partnership over the last 30 years is incredible, touching people's lives and making our area a green and thriving place to live, work and visit. I can't wait to see what is achieved over the next 30 years and beyond.

30 years of Mersey Forest projects

Some of the key projects that the Mersey Forest has supported over the last 30 years include:

  • Helping to manage the Sefton Coast Pine Woodlands
  • The award winning Urban GreenUP programme in Liverpool
  • Bold Forest Park and the Wasteland to Woodland project in St. Helens transforming a former coal colliery into a vibrant forest and green space for residents and visitors to enjoy.
  • Finding new uses for vacant industrial land in Knowsley through woodland creation
  • Northwich Woodlands, now a major recreational area on land that was once waste
  • Greening Wirral Waters, to enable regeneration
  • Agroforestry projects, weaving trees into productive agriculture in Cheshire East
  • One of the original partners of the Northern Forest, which stretches from Liverpool to Hull and aims to establish 50 million new tree.

The Mersey Forest is in the process of developing their new Forest Plan which will guide the partnership as it aims to increase tree cover in the area to 30% and create a better future for all our communities.

For more information about The Mersey Forest, visit the Mersey Forest website.

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