Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest set down roots

Councillor Carolyn Renwick, Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Environment of Derbyshire County Council, planted an oak tree on a former colliery land in Glapwell. This is to mark the start of the creation of the forest as part of the government-funded initiative to encourage more green spaces in areas of the county with fewer woodlands.

It follows the council's successful bid to develop one of two new Community Forests – the other being created in Tees Valley – to join the existing network of 13 England’s Community Forests. 

So-called because of its location at the heart of England, Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest will occupy a central position between the National Forest to the south and the Greenwood Community Forest in Nottinghamshire, providing the missing link to join up these two woodland areas. 

Trees will be planted on pockets of available land stretching over a geographic area of approximately 289 square miles within communities along the eastern border of the county and areas in the south of the county, including: 

• Amber Valley - Alfreton, Somercotes, Heanor, Ripley, Codnor.
• North East Derbyshire – Aston, Clay Cross, Dronfield, Eckington and Killamarsh, Sutton, Wingerworth, Shirland.
• Bolsover – Barlborough, Clowne, Bolsover, Shirebrook, Pleasley, South Normanton, Pinxton, Tibshelf, Glapwell.
• Chesterfield - Birdholme, Boythorpe, Brampton, Brimington, Chesterfield, Loundsley Green and Newbold, Staveley, Whittington.
• Erewash - Breadsall, West Hallam, Breaston, Horsley, Ilkeston, Long Eaton, Sandiacre.
• South Derbyshire - Etwall and Repton, Hilton, Melbourne, Sawley.
• Derby.

The project aims to plant 300,000 trees on publicly accessible land by March 2025, supporting our ambition to help facilitate the planting of a million trees by 2030.

Councillor Renwick said:

“Derbyshire is well-known for being home to the rural villages and rolling hills of the Peak District, but our county is also characterised by communities in former coalfields and industrial heartlands.

“Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest will bring together these urban areas, where more than three-quarters of the county’s population of 797,000 people live, helping to provide more green space for residents on their doorstep, boosting biodiversity, improving air quality and access to nature – which we know boosts people’s health and wellbeing."

Tree planting in Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest will be supported by England’s Community Forests Trees for Climate fund, part of the Government’s Nature for Climate programme. £50,000 has been awarded to fund initial development work for the new Community Forest.  

“We’re very pleased that Derbyshire has been chosen to create a Community Forest, which will also add value to Derbyshire’s tourism and visitor economy and bring the potential for the growth of new businesses and jobs in the area through nature-led regeneration of industrial landscapes,” Cllr Renwick added. 

The forest will be established in three phases. The third phase will be centred around establishing a new Community Forest Charitable Trust from April 2025 onwards to manage and maintain the Community Forest in the future.  

Forestry Minister Rebecca Pow said:

“Derbyshire Heartwood Community Forest promises to be a tremendous community asset for the county. Woodlands and trees are the beating heart of so many communities – absolutely essential to supporting our health and wellbeing, alongside being home to some our most unique wildlife.

“The nation’s network of Community Forests plays a really important role in contributing to our ambitions to increase tree planting across the country to meet net-zero ambitions, as well as increasing biodiversity. I look forward to seeing the progress as Derbyshire Heartwood Community Forest starts to take shape and become a woodland for generations to enjoy long into the future.”

Paul Nolan, Chair, England’s Community Forests, says: 

“It’s fantastic that we have two new Community Forests joining our growing partnership, bringing the total number of Community Forests up to 15. Both Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest and Trees on Tees will receive key support from the Government’s Nature for Climate fund through the Trees for Climate programme, helping to introduce more trees to areas most in need.

"Communities in both areas will be both part of the transformation and benefit from the creation of the forests, improving the local environment and connecting more people to nature.”

If you are a local landowner with land available to plant trees in Derbyshire’s Heartwood Community Forest area then the county council would like to hear from you, email heartwood@derbyshire.gov.uk for more information.