Forest Plan
Version: 31 March 2025
Director’s Foreword
The launch of Cumbria Community Forest’s first Forest Plan is an important milestone for all of us at Raise: Cumbria, and our incredible partners. This plan is not just a document – it is a clear, structured roadmap for the future of the Forest.
Executive Summary
Introduction
Introducing the Forest Plan
This is the first Forest Plan for Cumbria Community Forest. It sets out the Vision and Goals for Cumbria Community Forest over the next 25 years (2025-2050). It grounds these long-term ambitions with an Action Plan for the next 5 years (2025-2030).
Community Manifesto
This manifesto was created through our arts-led engagement pilot programme with Cumbrian communities. It centres the experiences and voices of participants in the programme.
Context
Raise: Cumbria Community Forest
Launched in 2021 and extending across 1388 square miles (or 3595 square kilometres), Cumbria Community Forest hugs the western edge of the Lake District National Park, stretching from the northern city of Carlisle to the post-industrial towns in the south. It takes in a unique Cumbrian setting of diverse landscapes, rural and urban populations, and socio-economic inequalities alongside local pride.
England’s Community Forests
England’s Community Forests is the leading woodland creation force in the country. A diverse and growing network of 15 unique Community Forests working to help nature recover and regenerate the landscapes in and around our largest towns and cities, we are ensuring that trees and woodlands are at the very heart of communities up and down the country, unlocking countless benefits for people and planet.
Local Policy Context
To establish the policy opportunities and constraints for Cumbria Community Forest, Raise has reviewed and considered local strategic plans, development plans and relevant policies county-wide, consulting closely with local policy partners and statutory bodies. This Forest Plan intentionally connects and supports a range of established and emerging policy and strategy in Cumbria, across land use, biodiversity and nature restoration, climate, water, public health, employment and the economy.
National Policy Context
England’s Community Forests create sustainable woodlands which are multifunctional: for climate, public health, green infrastructure and more. Community Forests’ activities enhance people’s lives and livelihoods, help nature to thrive and tackle the climate emergency. This section highlights key aspects of national policy and legislation which England’s Community Forests respond to and deliver against.
Progress So Far
When Cumbria Community Forest was launched in 2021, existing tree and woodland cover within the Forest area was 45903 hectares, or 12.77% of total land area. In 2023 this had increased by 854 hectares – an additional 0.24% of tree and woodland cover delivered over two years by all woodland creation partners operating across the Forest area.
Interactive Map
This interactive map shows woodland creation sites that have, and will be delivered by Raise: Cumbria Community Forest. It also shows the opportunity mapping which was undertaken to inform this Forest Plan.
Evidence
Opportunity Mapping
This Forest Plan is informed by expert geospatial analysis, provided by consultants Crossbill Forestry. Their modelling presents a detailed picture of the opportunities and constraints together with indicative targets for woodland establishment within the boundary of Cumbria Community Forest.
Engagement Outcomes
This Forest Plan proposes an innovative, inclusive and deeply human approach to forestry. Cumbria’s landscapes are rich in natural beauty, yet access to these spaces has not always been equitable or inclusive. To explore, demonstrate and refine an engagement model, Raise completed an engagement pilot programme with communities across Cumbria.
Tree & Woodland Benefits
The scope of tree and woodland benefits is vast. Over the last 30+ years England’s Community Forests have demonstrated benefits for people, nature and climate through multi-purpose woodlands and treescapes.
In this section we identify key evidence relating to the benefits of trees and woodlands. We link this evidence to the range of opportunities that Cumbria Community Forest (CCF) can provide in our local context.
Farming Voice
Over 70% of Cumbria’s land area is farmed. We recognise the central role farmers have in the expansion of tree and woodland cover within Cumbria Community Forest (CCF), and the opportunities for transformative benefits to farm businesses and rural communities through woodland creation and agroforestry.
In preparation of this Forest Plan, Raise undertook a programme of consultation and reflection to explore how farmers may perceive the CCF woodland creation and agroforestry offer.
Delivery Strategy
5-Year Action Plan
Funding Plan
Monitoring & Evaluation
Acknowledgements
We would like to thank all those who supported and contributed to the development of this Forest Plan, including:
the Raise team and Associates; particularly Zoe Pearson, Data & Insight Manager; Tania Lemmey, Associate Project Consultant; John Coburn, Associate Producer (Wild Museum), Ben Crisford, Associate GIS Consultant (Crossbill Forestry).
the artists, link organisations and community groups involved in the Forest Plan engagement pilots: Sneha Solanki, Full of Noises, Dominic Smith, Alistair Debling, Tullie, Autus, West House, Pride in North Cumbria, The Centre, and community members;
Clare Olver and the England’s Community Forests Forest Plan Development Group;
the Cumbria Community Forest Partnership: Cumberland Council, Cumbria Local Nature Partnership, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Cumbria Woodlands, Eden Rivers Trust, Environment Agency, Forestry Commission, Lake District National Park Authority, National Farmers Union, National Trust, Natural England, Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, West Cumbria Rivers Trust, Westmorland and Furness Council, Woodland Trust;
Charles Vivian and Community Forest Trust Board;
Supporters and partners of Raise: Cumbria Community Forest.
Accuracy
While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure information contained in this plan is correct at the time of publication, elements are subject to change due to a range of factors – including evolving local and national policy, and national planning reforms. The plan will be reviewed and updated periodically and in response to new information arising.
Enquiries
For enquiries about this plan, please contact Raise: Cumbria Community Forest at info@raisecumbria.co.uk