Melksham has been included in a priority area in the creation of a major new national forest, the first of its kind in 30 years.
The Western Forest will see over 20million trees planted across the west of England with over 6,000 acres of new woodland across Wiltshire, Somerset, Gloucestershire, the Cotswolds and the Mendips.
One of five priority areas will cover western Wiltshire, running from north of Chippenham to south of Warminster, taking in Melksham and the surrounding countryside (see map below).
Local group, Melksham Green Space, has welcomed the announcement, calling it a ‘huge step forward’ for nature, climate and community well-being.
“We’re absolutely thrilled that Melksham is in one of the priority areas for this exciting new national forest,” said Nigel Benham, chair of Melksham Green Space. “Planting 20million trees across the west of England is a huge step forward for nature, climate and community well-being. We look forward to working closely with the Forest of Avon Trust to help bring more trees and wildlife to our local green spaces and create a lasting legacy for future generations.”
Spearheaded by the Forest of Avon, one of England’s Community Forests, and supported by £7.5million of government funding, the Western Forest is the result of a successful regional partnership with contributions from more than 40 organisations including the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust.
Safia Gilder-Hodgson, Partnerships Manager at the Forest of Avon Trust, said work on the forest would begin this year, with tree planting starting as early as December 2025.
“We’re really excited to get started and create something big and bold for nature – a new accessible community forest of the future,” she said. “We hope to work with the local community – groups, volunteers, schools, businesses, landowners, and the Wildlife Trust – to deliver something amazing.”
Melksham Green Space is hoping to play a key role in the project at the local level, helping to engage the community and identify opportunities for new planting sites, restoration work and volunteering. They already had plans in place to plant hundreds of trees along Clackers Brook that runs from Ruskin Avenue, near King George V Park, to the Eastern bypass.
Parvis Khansari, Wiltshire Council Corporate Director for Place, said, “We are pleased to be a partner with the winning Western Forest bid and will work closely with the newly formed Western Forest Team along with other partners to ensure that the right trees are planted in the right place for the right reasons. This will build on the work that we have already undertaken over the past two years supporting tree planting with landowners and communities across Wiltshire and in partnership with Swindon Borough Council’s Great Western Community Forest.
“Whilst there are currently no detailed plans regarding locations for tree planting proposals under this new initiative, where appropriate, tree planting will be considered in towns such as Melksham.”
For more information about the Western Forest or to get involved in local initiatives, visit the Forest of Avon Trust website – https://forestofavon.org/western-forest/ – or follow Melksham Green Space on social media.
Pictured: the five priority areas of the new Western Forest
