The latest version of our pitch to launch a radical programme of woodland creation across England's Northwest. Our target? A more productive, low carbon landscape with woodland cover doubled within a generation.

2. Patent this.

3. It can absorb and
lock up carbon
Help stabilise
erosion-pront soils Offer a source of
shade and cooling
Provide a flood Provide a low carbon building
management system material or energy source
A wildlife habitat and It’s an object that makes every
pollution filter human being feel happier

4. Trees. It’s time to get planting.

6. TREES
Radically increase tree planting and double woodland cover.
CITIES
Bring a cool green revolution to our towns and cities.
CARBON Play a major part in tackling climate change.
WOOD
Produce more timber and use more timber.
JOBS
Support green jobs and sustainable skills.
HAPPINESS
Create healthier and happier communities.
BEAUTY Transform our region’s image, from the field to the city.

7. 37% European Union
8.4% United Kingdom
6.6% England’s Northwest
4% Mersey Belt

8. Why does it matter?
- Biodiversity and landscape ‘underperforming’
- Less accessible woodland for 7 million people.
- Less carbon ‘locked up’ in our landscape.
- Less resilient to the impacts of climate change.
- Areas of existing woodland that are disconnected.
- We are producing less timber than we might.
- Failing to protect jobs in our sector.

9. Trees.
- We will radically increase tree planting and double our
woodland cover.
- The Northwest has the opportunity and the capacity.
- We have the ‘headroom’ for growth.
- We have significantly lower levels of woodland cover
than both the national and European averages.
- We also have the available land for a number of types
of new woodland planting.

10. Doubling woodland cover
- Can we double our levels of woodland cover by 2050?
- Total land area of the Northwest = 1.4 million hectares.
- 96,000 hectares is woodland – 6.6% of our land area.
- To double woodland cover would require us to plant an additional 2,400
hectares of woodland each year over the next 40 years.
- AND we need to ensure that we do not lose any existing areas of woodland
through land use change.
- This target does not include the critical place of trees in towns.

11. Overcoming barriers
- Historical support for other types of land use.
- High land values.
- Competition with other land use types.
- Woodland management.
- Possible solutions?
- New, innovative approaches to planting
- Woodland creation as part of planning or development permissions
- Reformed grant regimes
- A greater focus on carbon sequestration opportunities, a greater market for
woodfuel and a future, significant shortfall in our domestic timber supply.

12. Cities.
Cities.

13. Cities.
- We will bring a cool green revolution to our towns and cities.
- Increased property prices.
- Reduced traffic noise.
- Higher levels of health and mental wellbeing.
- Reducing the urban heat island effect.
- Helping to reduce the risk of surface water flooding.

14. 10%
more trees

15. Greening Greater Manchester
- If Greater Manchester were to increase its tree cover
by 10% for example, it could stabilise maximum
surface temperature levels at or below the 1961-1990
baseline until the end of the century.
- BUT a 10% decrease in urban greening, combined with
the effects of climate change, could increase the
maximum surface temperature of high density
residential areas by up to 7 degrees.

16. Cities.
- Issues include:
- Mapping and auditing our areas.
- Integrating with key urban strategies.
- Winning hearts and minds.
- Our doubling woodland cover target could and
should be matched with a similar doubling of the tree
canopy in our urban areas.

17. Carbon.

18. Carbon.
- We will play a major part in tackling climate change.
- UK Low Carbon Transition Plan
- In 2007, forests in England removed about 2.9 million tonnes
of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
- The rate is declining, as forests planted in the 1950s to
1980s reach maturity.
- An additional 10,000 hectares of woodland per year for 15
years could remove up to 50 million tonnes of carbon
dioxide between now and 2050.

19. Our CO2 potential
- 96,000 hectares of woodland in
the region, representing a carbon
dioxide store of almost 24 million
tonnes.
- Business as usual, 400 hectares
per year, would still see a carbon
dioxide store of 3.9 million tonnes
created by 2050

20. Our CO2 potential
16 million tonnes
3.9 million tonnes
2040 2045 2050
2035
2030
2025
2020
2015
Enhanced creation - cumulative carbon store by 2050
Business as usual -cumulative carbon store by 2050

21. Our CO2 potential
- To double our woodland cover would store an additional
16 million tonnes of carbon dioxide by 2050.
- Even by 2020, an ambitious woodland creation
programme could store 738,000 tonnes.
- Based on an average accumulation rate of 12 tonnes of
carbon dioxide per hectare per year.

22. An affordable carbon strategy
- The social cost of this removal would be much less than other possible measures.
- According to the Read Report, an affordable cost per tonne of CO2 is considered to be
anything below £100.
- Depending upon the type of woodland created, the cost per tonne of securing CO2 through
woodland creation ranges from £75 for broadleaf farm woodland to a negative cost - i.e. a
positive economic gain - of £50 per tonne for forests producing energy crops.
- NOT COUNTED... additional benefits, beyond carbon storage
- of timber products being used and displacing more energy intensive materials
- the opportunity to radically increase our production of woodfuel and other energy crops.

23. Wood.

24. Wood.
- We will produce more timber and use more timber.
- A singular and immediate opportunity to address a critical market failure.
- The virtual disappearance of supplies of domestic timber from England
within a generation.
- We are planting softwood in particular at a much slower rate.
- This will result in ‘peak wood’ during the 2020s with a radical cut in
timber availability.
- Just as the market for low carbon products will be reaching maturity.
- And as existing softwood areas are felled, re-stocking is often reduced
through opening up to new land uses, or a switch to broadleaves.

25. Wood.
- Time to turn back to commercial, productive
forestry in order to
- sustain our vibrant timber sector
- to displace higher carbon materials in the
market place.
- to lock up even higher levels of carbon

26. - If the 26,000 additional
households forecast for the
Northwest by 2026 were all built in
this way, we could save over
100,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide,
through timber frames alone.

27. One tonne of timber CO2 equals...
- BRICK 4x
- CONCRETE 5x
- GLASS 6x
- STEEL 24x
- ALUMINIUM 126x

28. LESS MORE

29. Jobs.

30. Jobs.
- We will support green jobs and green skills.
- Timber and forest related industries are worth £435 million in
England’s Northwest and employ 69,000 people.
- Timber processing and sawmilling employs 8,345 people
- BSW at Carlisle processes 320,000 cubic metres of timber each
year and employs 140 people.
- Iggesund in Workington has a £144 million turnover and employs
500 people
- A W Jenkinson in Penrith employs 350 people and has a turnover of
£150 million per year.

31. Jobs
- Plus tourism, leisure and recreational pursuits that are heavily
reliant on the region’s woodlands.
- New woodlands, for example those created on neglected or
derelicit land sites through the Newlands programme, can have
a direct impact on business investment levels, too.
- Our sector can play a direct part in tackling worklessness and
getting people back into work.
- The region also has an education and research capacity, e.g.
- University of Cumbria’s National School of Forestry
- Pulp and paper research at the University of Manchester.

32. The Green New Deal.
- As we double tree cover, lock up more carbon and
boost our production and use of timber across the
region, we want to make forestry and timber-
related businesses in the region the direct and
immediate beneficiaries of our ‘green new deal’ on
woodlands.
- THESE ARE THE REAL GREEN COLLAR JOBS

33. Happiness.

34. Happiness.
- We will help to create healthier and happier communities.
- More trees mean a happier society.
- An increase in multi-purpose, accessible areas of woodland will bring direct and immediate
health benefits.
- Trees make life more liveable. Woodlands are restorative environments
- they can screen out noise from nearby traffic
- they can absorb large numbers of people
- offer a range of activities from gentle to vigorous, including walking, cycling, horse-riding,
nature trails, picnics and mountain biking.

35. Evidence of happiness
- Just one case study from Chicago comparing people living in flats with, or without, a view of
trees and grass found that a greener environment:
- reduced stress in children;
- increased concentration and self discipline;
- reduced symptoms of ADHD;
- increased the amount of play for local children;
- halved the incidence of violent crimes and domestic violence;
- increased strength of community and
- increased the ability of the poorest single parent mothers to cope with major life issues.

36. Evidence of happiness
- Another study carried out in the Netherlands
recently revealed that for every 10% increase
in green space there was a reduction in
health complaints equivalent to a reduction
of five years of age.
- Green space, in health terms, literally made
local communities younger.

37. Access is critical.
- In England’s Northwest we have made progress
- Around 67% of the region’s population now lives within 4km or a
woodland sized 20 hectares or more
- Greater than the national average for the English regions but with
much more scope for increased access - and wellbeing.
- As we increase our woodland cover, we must and will increase
access, too. We want to see every household in the region brought
within five minutes walk of an area of green space of at least two
hectares.

38. Beauty.

39. The value of green image
- The Return on Investment?
- Bold Moss in St Helens
- Bold Colliery site, derelict industrial land
- Transformed into a community woodland and nearly
600 new homes built.
- Property values in the surrounding area had risen by
£15m as a direct result.
- New developments worth £75m had been attracted.

40. Beauty.
- We will transform our region’s image, from the field to the city.
- Your brand is what you’re known for.
- You cannot shift image and reputation through marketing or the creation of straplines or
logos: it is in the physicality of a place and in the experience of that place that a ‘brand’ is
created.
- A radical programme of urban and rural greening across England’s Northwest will have a
dramatic impact on regional image and reputation.
- Our regional marketing campaigns can capture and telegraph reality but only if an
investment is made in creating a more beautiful and liveable region.

41. The transformative impact
- There are a number of ways in which trees and woodlands can make
a dramatic impact on image and reputation:
- ‘The Airport Road’ experience for international visitors and investors
- The built environment and major development schemes, ensuring that
major developments are successful and fully let.
- House prices and housing market renewal.
- Stronger communities.
- If our aesthetic experience is enhanced we are more likely to feel a stronger
bond of community, and a stronger identification with place and the others that
we share it with.

42. A beautiful region
- A beautiful region? This should be our final
manifesto aim.
- The less whimsical bottom line however on
regional brand is...
- Trees will mean more business, added
value to investments in major schemes,
a more buoyant housing market and
stronger, more cohesive communities.

43. TREES
Radically increase tree planting and double woodland cover.
CITIES
Bring a cool green revolution to our towns and cities.
CARBON Play a major part in tackling climate change.
WOOD
Produce more timber and use more timber.
JOBS
Support green jobs and sustainable skills.
HAPPINESS
Create healthier and happier communities.
BEAUTY Transform our region’s image, from the field to the city.

44. Trees. It’s time to get planting.

45. But where?

46. First ‘foundation’ assessment...

47. England’s Northwest Total land area
km2 ha
Environmentally constrained 4,905 490,499
Urban outside environmental constraints 2,570 256,963
Rural outside environmental constraints (agricultural
2,024 202,356
land grades 1, 2 & high likelihood 3a)
Rural outside environmental constraints (other) 4,628 462,824
Total 14,126 1,412,642

48. Existing woodland according to WI Total land area
ha %
Environmentally constrained 43,116 8.8%
Urban outside environmental constraints 7,506 2.9%
Rural outside environmental constraints (agricultural
8,863 4.4%
land grades 1, 2 & high likelihood 3a)
Rural outside environmental constraints (other) 34,267 7.4%
Total 93,752 6.6%

49. Additional woodland initial suggestion Land area
ha %
Environmentally constrained 29,430 6.0%
Urban outside environmental constraints 5,139 2.0%
Rural outside environmental constraints (agricultural
4,047 2.0%
land grades 1, 2 & high likelihood 3a)
Rural outside environmental constraints (other) 37,026 8.0%
Total 75,642 5.4%

50. Based on Lancashire evidence Land area
ha %
Environmentally constrained 25,692 5.2%
Urban outside environmental constraints 4,486 1.7%
Rural outside environmental constraints (agricultural
3,533 1.7%
land grades 1, 2 & high likelihood 3a)
Rural outside environmental constraints (other) 32,323 7.0%
Total 66,034 4.7%

51. Suggested - Lancashire Land area
ha %
Environmentally constrained 5,064 6.0%
Urban outside environmental constraints 1,155 2.0%
Rural outside environmental constraints
(agricultural land grades 1, 2 & high 1,057 2.0%
likelihood 3a)
Rural outside environmental constraints
8,833 8.0%
(other)
Total 16,109 5.3%

52. Suggested - Cheshire Land area
ha %
Environmentally constrained 851 6.0%
Urban outside environmental constraints 805 2.0%
Rural outside environmental constraints
(agricultural land grades 1, 2 & high 1,359 2.0%
likelihood 3a)
Rural outside environmental constraints
8,210 8.0%
(other)
Total 11,225 5.0%

53. Suggested - Merseyside Land area
ha %
Environmentally constrained 229 6.0%
Urban outside environmental constraints 1,032 2.0%
Rural outside environmental constraints
(agricultural land grades 1, 2 & high 198 2.0%
likelihood 3a)
Rural outside environmental constraints
529 8.0%
(other)
Total 1,987 2.8%

54. Suggested - Greater Manchester Land area
ha %
Environmentally constrained 489 6.0%
Urban outside environmental
1,864 2.0%
constraints
Rural outside environmental
constraints (agricultural land grades 79 2.0%
1, 2 & high likelihood 3a)
Rural outside environmental
1,726 8.0%
constraints (other)
Total 4,158 3.3%

55. Suggested - Cumbria Land area
ha %
Environmentally constrained 22,543 6.0%
Urban outside environmental
272 2.0%
constraints
Rural outside environmental
constraints (agricultural land 1,351 2.0%
grades 1, 2 & high likelihood 3a)
Rural outside environmental
17,688 8.0%
constraints (other)
Total 41,854 6.2%

56. ...time for a regional dialogue
hectares
Lancashire 16,109 ?
Cheshire 11,225 ?
Merseyside 1,987 TOO LOW
Greater Manchester 4,158 ?
Cumbria 41,854 TOO LOW
Total 75,333

57. Next Steps. More homework.

58. - CREATION How much can we plant and how quickly?
- THE MIX
What mix of forestry types can we purse?
- CAPACITY
What is the region’s capacity for woodland creation?
- CARBON 1 How much carbon dioxide storage will our new woodlands offer?
- CARBON 2 What will be the secondary carbon dioxide benefits, for example
- through energy crops or timber?
- ECONOMICS And what will the direct and indirect economic benefits be?

59. Capacity
- What is the region’s capacity for woodland creation?
- Our initial work to be verified and twinned with an analysis of
- land availability,
- cost,
- constraints (especially environmental) and
- possible innovations that could overcome real and perceived
barriers to woodland creation.
- Consideration also to be given to competing land uses, in
particular food production and housing.

60. The mix
- What mix of forestry types can we or should we pursue?
- Current ‘state of the art’ in terms of native woodland creation,
productive forestry leading to timber production, energy crops and
other, mixed approaches to woodland creation including food
production.
- Some analysis of levels of possible woodland access (given a target
in the Manifesto for increased, universal access) and
- to projected levels of climate change in the region and their impact
on candidate tree species.
- Links to ecological site classification and FC Research Team.

61. Creation
- How much can we plant and how quickly?
- How do we hit a ‘doubling’ target of woodland cover by 2050 (within a generation).
- This part of the study will identify current financial incentives including taxation
arrangements for woodland creation.
- Also need a parallel, remote sensing assessment of urban tree canopy levels.
- Link to existing or emerging, sub-regional green infrastructure plans.
- Three delivery scenarios that will move us towards our target and
- Specifically identify target land areas and sites across the region as ‘early wins’
- And the capacity of the sector to deliver an accelerated woodland creation programme.

62. Carbon (1)
- How much carbon dioxide storage will our new
woodlands offer?
- At a conservative rate of 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide
per hectare per year, could secure 16 million tonnes of
carbon dioxide storage by 2050.
- This part of the scoping study should verify the figures
we have and examine ‘carbon scenarios’ for differing
types of woodland creation and
- Take into account an imminent ‘carbon standard’ for
forestry projects that is due to be released by Defra.

63. Carbon (2)
- What will be the secondary carbon dioxide
benefits, for example through energy crops or
timber?
- ... particularly through timber production and the
‘displacement’ of more energy intensive
materials in the marketplace and
- through a desired increase in woodfuel/biomass
production as part of the woodland creation
‘mix’.

64. Economics
- What will the direct and indirect economic benefits be?
- Jobs in creation - can we estimate the direct job creation and
business opportunities through a programme of woodland
creation
- Jobs through products - a projection of possible future resource
flows in terms of energy crops and timber, for example.
- Jobs safeguarded - the 8,500 people currently employed directly
in timber and timber processing and the larger number - 69,000 -
who are working in the wider forestry and forest products sector
as a whole.

65. And back in the real world...
- PLUS real world case studies
- One: Omega
- This 230 hectare strategic site on the M62 comprises a large
part of the former Royal Air Force / United States Air Force
Burtonwood Airbase.
- Two: The Lake District National Park
- The LDNP Authority is working on a ‘Low Carbon Lake District’
and plans for increasing woodland cover, which provide a tight
fit to the regional proposal to double woodland cover.

66. Timings and programme
- Manifesto agreed by NWFF Forum
- Includes FC, Natural England, NWDA, Environment Agency,
Woodland Trust, Community Forests, Confor and local authorities
- Engagement with landowners and sub-regions started
- Presentations and alignment with national plans PLUS RS2010
- Research brief - MAY
- First draft - JUNE
- Final draft - SEPTEMBER
- Launch - SEPTEMBER

67. Trees. It’s time to get planting.