Cheshire and Warrington Forestry Cooperative

What is it?

The Cheshire and Warrington Forestry Cooperative is a three-year initiative to support more sustainable, nature-positive woodland management by developing a local timber market across Cheshire, Warrington and neighbouring Flintshire.

Around 66% of Cheshire and Warrington’s woodlands are currently unmanaged. This creates a major opportunity to bring woodlands back into positive management in a way that benefits biodiversity, supports local markets and creates economic value from woodland products.

The initiative will explore how a local timber market can incentivise woodland management, support forestry products for local use and encourage more nature-positive approaches to woodland creation and restoration. It also has the potential to inform future planning policy, including opportunities for new developments to source local timber or forestry products where appropriate.

Why is this needed? / Why are we doing this?

Unmanaged woodland can lose ecological value over time, particularly where there is limited active management for biodiversity, resilience, access or sustainable timber production.

At the same time, woodland creation grants and growing interest in nature-based solutions create a timely opportunity to connect woodland management with local economic benefits.

This project has been developed to re-establish woodland management, support local forestry markets, diversify income opportunities for local authorities and landowners, and improve biodiversity across the woodland network.

Carefully managed local forestry can help nature thrive while supporting practical economic outputs and future sustainable development.

What is it going to deliver?

The programme will deliver:

  • Development of a local timber market alongside Flintshire
  • Support for more sustainable and nature-positive woodland management
  • Re-establishment of active management in currently unmanaged woodlands
  • Greater availability of local forestry products
  • Support for local markets and potential future housing supply chains
  • Biodiversity improvements through better woodland management
  • New income opportunities for local authorities and landowners
  • Stronger links between woodland creation, management and local economic value
  • Exploration of planning policy opportunities linked to local sourcing
woods
Cheshire Wildlife Trust

Estimated Cost:
£500,000

Project Location:
Across Cheshire and Warrington, alongside Flintshire.
Area Covered:
Pan-Cheshire woodland network.

Local Authority Area:
Cheshire West and Chester, Cheshire East, Warrington.

How Long is the Programme:
Three Years.

Lead Partner:

Cheshire Wildlife Trust
Potential Partners:
Cheshire East Council, Warrington Borough Council, Forestry Commission, Mersey Forest, Cheshire Wildlife Trust, Tatton Estate, Grosvenor Estate, Cholmondeley Estate.
Woodland

Impact & Returns:

Environmental Returns

  • Improved woodland management across Cheshire and Warrington
  • Biodiversity gains from better managed woodland habitats
  • Support for larger, better connected woodland networks
  • Potential reduction in pressure from invasive non-native species through active management
  • Greater resilience of woodland habitats

Economic Returns

  • Creation of a local market for forestry products
  • Diversified income opportunities for councils, landowners and woodland managers
  • Potential contribution to local development and housing supply chains
  • Ongoing costs designed to be supported through income beyond the initial programme period

Strategic Returns

  • Supports nature-positive woodland management
  • Links environmental recovery with local economic opportunity
  • Strengthens the case for woodland creation and management grants
  • Provides a practical model for connecting natural capital with local markets

LNRS Priorities and Actions / LNP Goals:

This project aligns with the following Cheshire Local Nature Partnership goals: 

Goal One

Increase contribution of nature-based solutions to address the ecological and climate crises.

Goal Three

Increase value of investment into nature.

Goal Four

Mainstream nature recovery to ensure Cheshire becomes nature positive by 2030.

W1

More, bigger, better and joined-up wildlife-rich woodland networks across the landscape

W2

A network of well-connected, well-managed and restored ancient woodlands, PAWS, veteran trees, orchards and exceptional trees

F1

Support and promote nature-friendly farming, land management and sustainable food production across the landscape

NBS1

Nature, people and economy thriving through more, bigger, better and more joined-up Green and Blue Infrastructure

INNS1

Invasive non-native species minimised across Cheshire and Warrington

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