Forestry England and DPD are extending their partnership to restore and protect some of the nation’s forests. Since 2020, the support of DPD’s Eco Fund has helped restore Wareham Forest in Dorset following devastating wildfires, planted more than 12,000 trees across four woodlands, and created new spaces for local communities.
The partnership will continue for two more years with projects to boost biodiversity and resilience in several woodlands in Forestry England’s care. At West Harting Down in the South Downs National Park, work will focus on restoring this ancient woodland site with a diverse mix of tree species to improve resilience and biodiversity. DPD’s support will enable Forestry England to plant 5,000 trees, help to improve the condition of a nearby Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and expand the habitat for wildlife including dormice, turtle doves and several butterfly species.
At Clipsham Woods in the East Midlands, the focus will be on replanting the woodland which has been badly impacted by ash dieback disease. The partnership will support the planting of 7,000 trees, incorporating a diverse range of tree species to make it more resilient to climate change and the threats of future tree pests and diseases.
These projects will ensure local communities can continue enjoying these vital spaces for nature, with DPD colleagues from nearby depots invited to take part in site visits and volunteer days to help plant the new trees.
Meera Hindocha, Forestry England head of brand and corporate partnerships, said: “Working with DPD over the past five years has shown the power of partnership. Collaborating with corporate partners allows us to do more for the nation’s forests, for people, wildlife and for a sustainable green economy. There are fantastic examples of the impact DPD’s support has made in many of the 1,500 forests and woodlands in our care. The new wellbeing area at Hamsterley Forest in County Durham is just one example, where a new shelter, benches and tree planting are now in place that would not be there without their support. We’re excited to continue this journey and make an even bigger difference for nature and communities.”
Tim Jones, DPD UK director of marketing, communications and sustainability, said: “We at DPD are delighted to be supporting Forestry England again for two more years. We’ve made a real impact through our previous partnership with Forestry England, as we’ve planted over 12,000 trees and even helped install a wellbeing area at Hamsterley Forest. We want to build on that over the next two years by planting another 12,000 trees, which makes a significant difference to biodiversity and climate resilience. We’re proud to continue supporting Forestry England in our shared sustainability goals.”
The woodland restoration programme will directly support Forestry England’s wider work on forest resilience. They recently published their forest resilience strategy which sets out how they will protect the nation’s forests against the multiple threats they face. Three key principles of assessing, diversifying and restoring will guide foresters across the organisation so the 1,500 forests and woodlands in their care are fit for the future. As the combined effects of the climate crisis, biodiversity collapse, and tree pests and diseases put the nation’s forests at ever greater risk, the science-led strategy sets out a bold approach to forest management.
