1. The experience of Community Forests Twenty years of environmental regeneration Clive Davies Clive Davies Associates Green infrastructure advisors

2. About  Community Forests are about environmental regeneration and communities; two terms are used commonly in this context Quality of Place and Quality of Life PlacePeople Community Forests work here

3. Roots  The origins of Community Forests in England can be traced to the following occurrences:-  A major shift in forestry policy  10 years of preceding dereliction  The advent of multiple-benefit land management Providing areas for recreation is a key aim for Community Forests, this disused railway is now a walkway Railway line closed in 1950’s

4. Programme  The Community Forest programme was launched in 1988.  By 1992 twelve areas of England had been designated.  The first task was to produce a strategic plan and appoint a small team of professional staff to coordinate activities. The Community Forests were located in and around some of England's major centres of population North East Community Forests 55 North Scotland

5. Boundaries  No major land ownership changes.  Partnership became a key word.  Initially restricted to work in the urban fringe but not in urban centres.  Ambitious targets for woodland cover but they were always much more than forestry projects. Image enhancement remains a priority. Screening large industrial structures enhances the living conditions for residents and makes the locality more attractive for new investors Corus steel works

6. Forest Plans Producing Forest Plans was the first priority; these Plans had the following purposes:-  To create a vision for the local area  To describe a strategy  Provide a document that would impress funders  Secure the interest of policy makers and local politicians In most Community Forest areas woodland cover was very low so a high priority for the Forest Plans was to show how and where new planting could occur

7. Community Forest Structure Delivery of projects

8. Regeneration typology Typology Reclamation of former industrial and landfill sites for ‘green end’ uses Increasing woodland cover with access on farmland on urban boundary Providing new ‘off road’ linear trails often using old industrial railway lines Screening industrial structures between housing areas and factories Improving visual amenity next to road and rail corridors Planting trees as future wood fuel Greening of new development sites to improve there marketability Improving the quality of existing open space near to housing, schools, hospitals New local nature reserves where people can get ‘close to nature’ Creating new visitor attractions for local people and visitors

9. Examples: West Park West Park, Darlington in 2001, a former factory site has now been developed for housing and the area shown red developed as a Woodland Park September 2007 the site has rapidly matured and is now a popular visitor attraction. In addition to the natural features artwork and play facilities have been included

10. Examples: West Park The sculpture celebrates the fact that the world’s first passenger railway passed this site in 1825. INSET: An 4X extreme BMX course has been built for youngsters 4X extreme course

11. Examples: Herrington Closure of the coal mine was followed by major land-forming throughout the 1990’s Tree planting and water features have been used to create a new country park with views to the Penshaw monument. The monument is well known locally for the legend of the Lampton worm Penshaw monument

12. Examples: Whickham Thorns Sport training facilities such as the climbing practice boulder have been created in new settings

13. Examples: Cowpen Bewley Cowpen Bewley was created on a former landfill site and land owned by a chemical company Residential housing Visitor centre

14. Examples: Cowpen Bewley The area includes extensive wetlands and is popular for walking and bird watching

15. Examples: Admiralty Ecology Site A former WW2 USAF base is now being used as an area to educate children about woodlands and nature

16. Examples: Stillington Forest Park Developed on a former industrial site the Forest Park contains numerous areas of open water which are popular with fishermen

17. Examples: Summerhill Summerhill is an area of former agricultural land that has been left isolated by housing development. The land has now been developed with recreation and biodiversity as key considerations. An archaeological exploration of a medieval village has proven to be popular with local residents High ropes courseNew visitor centre Old farm buildings

18. Lessons to create success Creating success Employing a dedicated coordinating team Having a strategic plan with public and political support A Partnership approach works Being semi- autonomous of local government helps A clear ‘theme’ helps in marketing e.g. forests or wetlands Spending money on promotion and publicity is a good investment Meeting the core operational costs of the project team from public sources is essential

19. Lessons to avoid failure Avoiding failure Expect to manage conflicts especially with private landowners Work with nature not against it, it is much cheaper too Do not restrict options over land ownership sometimes it is best for land to be held publicly Grant incentives are rarely enough to encourage voluntarily planting of trees or managing private land ecologically Use external advisors to provide impartial advice Be vigorous in arguing for resources Work with local communities as public support is vital to maintain

20. Green infrastructure From 2002 onwards Community Forests have adapted to using green infrastructure planning as a key tool this means:-  Thinking of green space as infrastructure.  Making urban green- space part of a response to climate change.  A network of natural resources providing ecological services.

21. Green infrastructure definition  Green infrastructure is the physical environment within and between our cities, towns and villages. It is a network of multi-functional open spaces, including formal parks, gardens, woodlands, green corridors, waterways, street trees and open countryside. It comprises all environmental resources, and thus a green infrastructure approach also contributes towards sustainable resource management.

22. Green infrastructure network The green infrastructure network is clearly seen from the air

23. Green infrastructure functions  Sustainable resource management  Biodiversity  Recreation, particularly relating to non-car routes  Landscape of green spaces from and aesthetic, experiential and functional point of view  Regional development and promotion.

24. Finale E mail: clive@clivedaviesassociates.com