Photos © Chris Parkes Photography
FEATURE
Watch the new forest grow! Environmental project is looking to the future
A
n ambitious green plan to plant thousands of new trees across Plymouth and South Devon has been revealed, following the announcement that the area has been chosen to become England’s 11th ‘Community Forest’. The Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest (P&SD Community Forest) will stretch from the heart of the city to the edge of the moor, encompassing 1,900 hectares of land, forming a mosaic of different forest habitats. To put it into perspective, 1,900 hectares would cover roughly the area of 3,750 football pitches. That’s going to mean tens of thousands of new trees - a planting project like never seen before in the Plymouth area. For the city itself, the ‘canopy cover’ will increase by around 20%. Unlike traditional forests, community forests aren’t geographically restricted to one place. Instead, they are a spread out across a mix of community woodland, private woodland, on street, urban woodland, wooded habitat corridors and hedgerows. The key aspect is that the planting will be co-ordinated, so there will be a mix of species and the right types of tree in the right type of place. Please mention PLYM LINKS when responding to adverts
It is envisaged that by connecting the rich ecosystems and habitats of Dartmoor and the wider South Devon area and bringing them into the city, the connection to nature, and enjoyment of it, can be improved for future generations. It’s a massive project and is expected to last for at least 25 years. Delivering the P&SD Community Forest for future generations is a core part of the proposal, in recognition of young people’s voices in recent climate emergency discussions - and the recovery from the impact of the Covid pandemic. Environmentally, the extra trees will increase the capture of carbon/Co2 in the Plymouth area by 83% from current levels once fully established, helping in the fight to become carbon neutral by 2030. The announcement is not just good news for the environment. It is planned that the forest will create 353 jobs over the first ten years, with plenty of apprenticeships across a broad range of roles. The opportunities that the P&SD Community Forest creates will ensure skills development and job creation relevant to today and tomorrow’s young people and generate a sustainable natural asset for future Visit our community website www.dartmoorlinks.co.uk 5
