Hartpury University and Hartpury College are delighted to celebrate the official announcement of the Western Forest, a groundbreaking new national forest spanning Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and the West of England (Bristol, Bath and Northeast Somerset). This is the first new national forest in over 30 years, promising to bring transformational impact for people and the planet.
In a letter of support, written by Professor Andy Collop (Vice-Chancellor, Principal and CEO of Hartpury), Professor Matt Bell (Director of Agriculture at Hartpury University) and Jackie Jobes (Sustainability Director at Hartpury), Hartpury had offered full endorsement to the concept and staff and students are delighted at today’s news.
The Western Forest will serve over 2.5 million residents, creating a collaborative approach to nature recovery and green investment across three regions. With plans to plant at least 2,500 hectares of new woodland and other tree habitats in its first five years, the forest aims to plant 20 million trees by 2050, supporting the Government’s net zero commitments and nature targets.
Hartpury University and Hartpury College fully endorse the Western Forest’s aims, including:
- Innovative Partnership: Collaborating with the Western Gateway to create a pioneering centre of excellence, informing, supporting, and inspiring organisations and audiences nationwide.
- Nature Recovery: Building from existing strategies to connect, expand, and preserve priority woodland networks across borders, contributing to the natural and cultural heritage of the South West.
- Locally Sensitive Habitats: Working with landowners, farm advisors, and fellow colleges and universities to develop multi-purpose woodlands on agricultural land, integrating climate adaptation practices with local food production.
- Connecting People and Nature: Launching Generation Forest, an ambitious project led by rural and urban youth, emphasising green skills and generating original content through the region’s creative industries.
- Research Hub: Establishing a national research hub and network for knowledge creation and exchange, leveraging the research strengths of higher education institutions.
Hartpury’s campus offers extensive opportunities to engage in the proposed programme of work. Students and staff conduct high-level research in biodiversity, conservation, ecology, sustainable agriculture, and more, contributing positively to the green jobs agenda, local knowledge exchange, while also boosting their own student employability.
Involvement with the Severn Treescapes Project that has seen students plant hedges and trees across campus is an example of the power of student-staff collaboration with such initiatives.
The forest project will be particularly of interest for students studying college diplomas in agriculture and countryside management, as well as degrees including the BSc (Hons) Environmental Science and the postgraduate MSc Biodiversity Conservation.
Jackie Jobes, Director of Sustainability at Hartpury University said: “The Western Forest will bring endless benefits to our region, and I am absolutely delighted at today’s news. We were so glad to offer our full backing to the concept as our staff and students are hugely passionate about the environment and the benefits of nature. The benefits of the new national forest will include enhancing landscapes, creating jobs, and improving the lives and well-being of our residents, visitors and wildlife.”
Prof. Matt Bell, Director of Agriculture at Hartpury University, added: “Our farm’s stewardship activities, including initiatives like tree and hedgerow planting as well as research activities, will significantly contribute to the Western Forest’s objectives of woodland creation, expansion, and better management.”
Hartpury University and Hartpury College look forward to collaborating with other organisations in the region on this exciting and important partnership, contributing to the success of the Western Forest and supporting the Government’s Plan for Change.
