District council agrees "ambitious woodland deal"

An exciting and ambitious woodland deal for a new 65-acre community woodland has been agreed and is going to be created in South Brent.

With the support of the Government’s Trees for Climate Land Acquisition Fund, South Hams District Council has been able to buy the site. This is part of the district council’s priority to tackle climate change and increase biodiversity by 20% over four years.

Tree planting will start later this year with a community planting event.

Leader of South Hams District Council, Cllr Julian Brazil, says: “We are so thrilled and excited about this project. As an ambitious administration this is all about what we are trying to achieve. It emphasises our priority around the climate change and biodiversity agenda, but it does so much more.

"We will be working with local schools, social prescribers, and other local community groups. It will leave a lasting legacy for the South Hams.

“We hope to plant around 25,000 trees on this site. It is the start of us planting a tree for every resident of the South Hams. Thank you so much to all those involved. My fellow councillor John McKay, as executive lead, and local councillors Guy Pannell and David Hancock have all helped to get us this far.

"We all want to make a difference.”

As part of the woodland, the fields will continue to be a productive landscape, with parts of the site still being grazed. As part of the varied community proposals, an orchard and a market garden will be created in partnership with local group, Sustainable South Brent to deliver the project for their local area.

They are passionate about the project and will use some of the woodland for education and community food production.

The Vice-Chair of Sustainable South Brent (SSB), Hayden Gabriel, says: “This new woodland can deliver so much for the community of South Brent and aligns precisely with SSB’s vision of creating a resilient, low-carbon community where all life thrives.  

"Varied habitat creation and nature recovery in this zone of woodland, increased local food production and a natural educational resource are just some of the many advantages on offer.

“The opportunities are huge and we are excited to work with the District Council and the Community Forest to maximise the potential of the site for the community. Sustainable South Brent trustees and volunteers are keen to get behind this project.

"Now news of the woodland has been made public, we will be inviting local groups and schools to help shape and deliver this uplifting endeavour.”

Director of the Plymouth and South Devon Community Forest, Kathryn Deeney, says: “The Community Forest has successfully been supporting a varied programme of new planting within the Plymouth, South Devon and Dartmoor area over the last couple of years.

"This marks the first land purchase through the Community Forest, and is an exciting milestone, reflecting the strong partnership built up locally, and was a proposal we could confidently champion and support.”

Over the coming months South Hams District Council will engage with local residents over proposals for the site and consider detailed design and planting with the community, partners and stakeholders. The planting will be supported through a partnership with the Woodland Trust and their MOREwoods scheme.

The planting will be supported through a partnership with the Woodland Trust and their MOREwoods scheme, which is funded by Lloyds Bank.

Outreach Manager for the Woodland Trust, Eleanor Lewis, says: “This is an excellent opportunity for a new woodland serving the South Hams. MOREWoods is an established scheme that provides expert advice, funding and trees to landowners who want to create a woodland.

“With careful planning this site can deliver huge benefits for people, wildlife and climate, as well as incorporating local aspirations for continued local food production on part of the land. We look forward to working collaboratively to design a woodland that can deliver multiple benefits with the local community at its heart.”

The next step is to share proposals with the local South Brent community at a drop-in event. This will be held on Wednesday, 14 August, in the Aune Room, Old School Community Centre in South Brent from 3pm to 8pm.