Our Changeprint
Our Changeprint can be measured by the thousands of healthy trees growing; new habitats created by changing from open ground to woodland; increase in local biodiversity; mental and physical benefits of connecting people with nature; and the tonnes of carbon sequestered by the trees (around 668 tonnes over the next 20 years).
Our story
Exmoor National Park has 9,500ha of woodlands, equivalent to 14% coverage of the entire National Park. This includes 3,327ha of ancient woodlands and over 1,657 veteran trees. Exmoor National Park Authority owns and manages around 570ha of this woodland, and is working with partners to increase coverage to 17% in line with the UK government's independent Climate Change Committee.
As part of this, the biggest woodland creation project to have taken place in the National Park in the past 15 years took shape at Bye Wood, near Winsford. This projected involved planting 13,000 trees over 12 hectares, using only locally sourced wood.
Careful structural planting supports tree growth and resilience to a changing climate, and sustainable organic and physical methods of planting have been used in preference to chemicals.
The new woodland, completed in 2023, will nurture new wildlife habitats and include community areas to connect people with nature. Over the next 20 years, Bye Wood will sequester around 668 tonnes of carbon.
Following on from Bye Wood, our next major planting is taking place at Simonsbath to create Kings Wood in celebration of the Coronation of King Charles III in 2023.
Our advice
Get volunteers involved from an early stage to inform how the woodland is designed, including spaces for people to enjoy the woodland. Volunteers and local school children can also help to collect seeds and plant trees.
Try and be as sustainable as possible; for example, we researched alternative tree guards to avoid using plastic. Fully research the impacts both positive and negative and design the project around these impacts. Engage with interest groups at the earliest stages.
