Earlier this year Halton Council joined The Mersey Forest Partnership, a network of organisations acting together to grow and care for the trees, woodlands and nature that are intertwined with our communities. Halton joins 8 other organisations across Cheshire and Merseyside that make up the partnership of this thriving Community Forest.
This partnership will add to the successful work already achieved as part of The Big Halton Forest project, which has already seen over 70,000 trees planted across the borough in the last 3 years and will continue to increase tree numbers in future years.
Partnering with The Mersey Forest will bring a wide range of additional benefits including sharing expertise, knowledge and opportunities for community engagement with woodlands and natural habitats in Halton, as well as supporting the council with funding applications.
Cllr. Paul Nolan, Portfolio holder for Environment & Urban Renewal said: “I’m delighted that Halton are rejoining Mersey Forest. This is a really important step in ensuring we are in the best possible position to meet environmental targets and achieve our ambitions for improving Halton’s woodlands and environment”.
Paul Nolan, Director at The Mersey Forest, said: “We’re really pleased to have Halton as part of The Mersey Forest Partnership. Together, we’re planting more trees, improving woodlands, and enhancing green spaces that support climate resilience, biodiversity and community wellbeing across the borough.
Through the partnership, people in Halton can enjoy meaningful opportunities to connect with nature and take an active role in caring for their local landscapes, now and in the future.
This kind of collaboration is helping us deliver our Forest Plan, which brings together partners to grow and improve The Mersey Forest across Cheshire and Merseyside, creating thriving, connected green spaces that benefit people, nature and climate.”
More with Trees: The Mersey Forest Plan is the long-term strategic guide for the work of Cheshire and Merseyside Community Forest and partners, which extends to 2050 and beyond. The work includes establishing trees, woods, and other habitats, and connecting green spaces, alongside maintaining and caring for our existing trees. This is for the benefit on not just the flora and fauna, but the local communities, land owners, businesses and schools, whose lives can all be enriched by helping nature flourish and strengthening climate resistance.
Find out more about the partnership here: https://merseyforest.org.uk/