Western Forest: How your business can get involved
Last week, Business West supported a networking breakfast to celebrate the launch of the Western Forest, England’s first national forest for 30 years.
The event explored how the programme will deliver nature recovery and growth in the region, and how businesses across Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and the West of England can get involved.
Speaking at the session, Douglas Ure, CEO at Business West, highlighted the environmental, economic and social benefits of the Western Forest development and why businesses should get involved. Emphasising the potential outperformance of businesses that place responsibility and environmental management at their core.
Business West will be an active partner to the Western Forest, helping connect the programme with our business community across the region. We’re keen to hear your views on shaping the Western Forest, so that is fully aligned with your business needs.
What is the Western Forest?
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What is the Western Forest?
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The Western Forest is a long-term government-backed programme focused on innovation, nature recovery, climate resilience and community engagement.
The aims of the programme are to:
- Create 2,500 hectares of woodland and other tree habitats by 2030
- Plant 20 million trees by 2050
- Connect land managers with funding, skills and knowledge to drive climate and business resilience
- Connect rural and urban populations to our rich natural history to inspire an inclusive forest to live in and visit
- Connect young people to shape the vision for the Western Forest
- Connect industry and business to the Western Forest to continue growth and national net-zero ambitions
Where is the Western Forest?
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Where is the Western Forest?
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The Western Forest will span Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and the West of England. It will connect major urban centres, including Bristol, Bath, and Swindon, with rural areas and small towns across the region.
Linking the Mendip Hills and the Cotswolds, it will join urban and rural economies and will be embedded in the places where businesses operate, invest, and grow.
What are the benefits to the region?
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What are the benefits to the region?
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The Western Forest brings together environmental priorities and economic opportunities that align with business needs.
- Driving green growth and regional leadership
- Supporting the transition to net zero
- Building skills, jobs and workforce resilience
- Strengthening infrastructure and climate resilience
- Enhancing place, health and wellbeing
How can your business get involved with the Western Forest?
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How can your business get involved with the Western Forest?
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The Western Forest programme has been designed to bring together businesses, local authorities, environmental charities and NGOs, educators, and training providers.
Businesses of all sizes have an important part to play, including:
- Investing and partnering in woodland creation and biodiversity projects.
- Engaging your workforce with volunteering, skills development and wellbeing initiatives that will connect employees with the environment.
- Engaging with partnerships and pilot programmes that will explore new ways of integrating nature into commercial activities.
- Helping shape the programme. The Western Forest is still evolving, and businesses have an important voice in how it develops and where the forest connects to/and where the forest is planted.
Business West’s role
Business West is committed to being an active partner with the Western Forest, helping to connect this programme with the broad range of businesses in our community across our region.
Through the business support services offered at Business West including the Local Skills Improvement Plans, we bring expertise across low carbon markets, energy, tech, workforce development, and policy influence with public, private, and third-sector partners.
We can also provide a link to other partners, including local and combined authorities.
If you want to know more about this programme, or would like to provide your input on the Western Forest or wider green skills issues, please get in touch with Chloe Barratt, LSIP Project Manager & Green Lead.