Community Forest

The Great Western Community Forest is one of 12 community forests in England where local people and organisations are working together to create a better environment.

This exciting environmental project is creating a rich mosaic of woodlands, green spaces and areas for wildlife in and around Swindon and the surrounding towns and villages.

The Great Western Community Forest project is providing a high quality environment for homes, employment, education and recreation. It covers 140 square miles, stretching from Wootton Bassett to Faringdon and from the Marlborough Downs to the River Thames.

The Great Western Community Forest was founded in 1994 in part as a result of priorities for environmental protection and sustainable living, established in the Rio Earth Summit Agreement of 1992.

Aims of the Forest Partnership

The aims of the forest partnership are to:

• Create a multi-purpose forest embracing Swindon and its environs, with a rich mixture of woods, farmland, open spaces, towns and villages
• Increase tree cover within the forest area until it reaches an average of 30%
• Encourage community involvement in the creation and maintenance of the forest and to instil a strong sense of local identity within the region
• Maintain and enhance biodiversity within the forest
• Maximise public access to the forest for work and leisure
• Encourage sustainable development within the forest area, including employment opportunities that make use of the forest itself
• Improve the overall quality of the landscape within and surrounding Swindon in particular, so that people from the town and its surrounding villages will want to use, cherish and enjoy the area

Further Information/Contact