n By Keith Hatch
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Regarding jobs it said, “Tourism has supported more than 5,000 jobs in the Forest and continues to grow, with new businesses, events and accommodation helping to drive year-round visits.”
National Forest managers are lined up to provide expertise and mentorship to the Western Forest project team. National Forest 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 9.8m 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.”
Leading on the Western Forest will be the Forest of Avon chief executive Alex Stone, who said, “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.”
Regarding job creation, beyond developing a core team and delivery roles Forest of Avon is working on Generation Forest which aims, over the next five years, to work with young people to upskill and train a future generation of forestry workers.
Forest of Avon Partnership manager Safia Gilder-Hodgson said that the project, “aims to train 2,000 people and generate opportunities for both rural and urban communities to get involved.
“We will also be engaging with thousands of young people to volunteer and get involved in community planting days which may inspire young people to connect to woodlands and want to explore forestry careers in the future.”
15 uniteLANDWORKER Spring 2026
The aim is to grow the green economy and bring more opportunities and projects to the forestry sector to fuel economic growth alongside increased canopy cover and improvement of existing woodland
Safia Gilder-Hodgson, Forest of Avon Partnership manager
As well as these jobs and opportunities created directly, the Western Forest will bring in work to contractors, nurseries and consultancies across the region.
Safia added, “The aim is to grow the green economy and bring more opportunities and projects to the forestry sector to fuel economic growth alongside increased canopy cover and improvement of existing woodland.”
Unite has welcomed the creation of the new national forests.
Lorna Bailey-Towler, is a Unite rep with Forestry England in the South England Forest District said, “Planting the right trees in the right places to create a more connected landscape with wildlife corridors will benefit nature and wildlife. Having a mosaic of habitats helps support a greater diversity of species, which makes the landscape more resilient for the challenges ahead with climate change.
“From my experience this sector relies heavily on grants in order to fund important conservation projects, so government funding for projects like this is vital in restoring our shrinking forests and habitats.
“A project like this will create many jobs and also benefit people and wildlife for years to come,” she added.
Alamy
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