Greenwood Community Forests

Replanting Sherwoods Greenwood

Greenwood is a multi-purpose Community Forest being created in 161 square miles of west Nottinghamshire countryside from Mansfield in the north to Nottingham in the south and from Eastwood in the west to Farnsfield in the east. It joins historic Sherwood Forest in the north-east and curves round to Attenborough in the south-west.

It is fast becoming a rich mixture of woods, farmland, open spaces and settlements providing a better environment for people to use, cherish and enjoy for generations to come.

Through the creation of a variety of well-wooded landscapes for wildlife, work and education, Greenwood is providing new opportunities for a range of recreational facilities; leisure enterprises, nature areas and public open space all on the doorsteps of thousands of people.

Over £14 million pounds has been invested in creating the Greenwood Community Forest.

1. The Greenwood Partnership is achieving this by….
2. Landscape Regeneration for countryside and woodland to create healthy, attractive and stimulating environments for inward investment where people will want to live and work. Over 597 hectares of derelict land were reclaimed in the first 10 years of the project for forest related uses;
3. Countryside Access so that people can benefit from the outcomes, especially for those on foot, horse-back or cycle.
4. Community Involvement, ensuring through education and consultation that local people are involved in deciding what is to be done and in making it happen.
5. Sustainable Development, acting to promote sustainable development by working with farmers and land owners
6. Sense of Place creating a feeling that the Greenwood is special to people.

1. Achievements since 1991..
2. 1309 hectares of new woodland have been planted, that’s over 3½ million trees;
3. 891 hectares of existing woodland have been brought into management;
4. 296 hectares of woodland have been opened for recreation and access;
5. 1259 hectares of heaths, limestone grasslands and wetland areas have been created to improve biodiversity or expose archaeological features;
6. 357 km of hedgerows have been created or restored, that’s equal to the distance by road from Nottingham to London and back
7. 8345 community events have taken place including school visits to help create or use the Community Forest as an outdoor classroom
8. 952 km of routes have been opened up or improved for recreation and access;

The Greenwood Community Forest partnership is made up of: Nottinghamshire County Council, Ashfield District Council, Broxtowe Borough Council, Gedling Borough Council, Mansfield District Council, Newark and Sherwood District Council, Nottingham City Council, The Forestry Commission and Natural England.

There are 12 Community Forests in England, which together form one of the biggest environmental projects in the country. They were set up with the support of local communities, to create well-wooded landscapes, creating green spaces around towns for recreation and sport, provide new habitats for wildlife, make outdoor classrooms for environmental education and much more.

Greenwod Press Notes released July 2007

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