Welcome to South West Forest

South West Forest is an independent, non-commercial partnership, hosted by Devon County Council, which provides a service that is agreed and paid for by its funding partners. Enhanced grants available in the South West Forest area have helped to establish over 3000 hectares of new woodlands since 1998, in ways intended to stimulate and support farm businesses and rural incomes.

South West Forest

We offer:

Free and independent advice on woodland management and creation
Support for local communities in the creation and diverse use of woodland through our Community Woodlands Programme
Networking and partnership opportunities for farmers and landowners through supporting organisations like the South West Forest Products Network and Eco-lots
Promotion and marketing of local and regional businesses through delivery of the Woodfair South West programme of events.

Our main aims are to enhance:

The lifestyles of those living and working in the South West Forest area,
The environment in which they live; and,
The opportunities for integrated, sustainable rural development.

Further information about the work and aims of the South West Forest is available in our Development Plan.

The South West Forest Annual Newsletter is available online here...

Where

The Forest area covers 300,000 ha with a population of 180,000 and is broadly bounded by Bodmin Moor, Dartmoor and Exmoor. The area has recently been enlarged to include 30 parishes of Mid Devon District Council found within the Culm character area. The aim is to increase tree cover to 15% from the current level of 10% by encouragement and financial support. This would mean 15,000 ha planted over the next 15 years.

Continuing uncertainty and low incomes in agriculture will lead farmers and the businesses that depend on agriculture to further diversify to maintain rural employment and local communities.

Woodland planting areas will be carefully designed to maximise benefits in sympathy with existing land use. Types of planting encouraged will include commercial farm woodlands, mixed woodlands and copses, community woodlands, orchards, hedgerow trees and domestic plantings.

Why

To diversify the rural economic base, by encouraging the forest industry as well as supporting existing businesses and services.
To consolidate farm enterprises by providing alternative income to declining agricultural support.
To create new employment opportunities in planting and maintenance of trees and later in harvesting and the timber industries.
To provide specialist business and tax advice to farmers and landowners considering tree planting.
To enhance landscape and nature conservation by increasing biodiversity and the protection of the physical, archaeological and cultural environment.
To provide education, training and research in rural skills.
To improve community welfare and amenity.
To increase opportunities for, and income from, recreation and tourism.

Who

South West Forest employs a team of specialist advisers covering the range of woodland creation, woodland management and wood utilization; in addition to related education and training interests. Staff live locally and operate from an office at Cookworthy Forest Centre. You can contact us here.

Partners in the project include:

National Farmers Union and Country Land and Business Association - representing farming and landowning interests
Forestry and Timber Association - representing commercial timber growers
Forestry Commission, Natural England, SW Regional Development Agency, DEFRA, Environment Agency, Forest Enterprise
Devon and Cornwall County Councils; North Devon, Mid Devon, Torridge and North Cornwall District Councils and West Devon Borough Council
South West Lakes Trust, Devon Wildlife Trust, Woodland Trust, North Devon Biosphere
South West Tourism, Silvanus Trust
Local interest - Community Woodlands, Parish Councils, Rural Community Councils

This has been made possible by funding from the EU and DEFRA, with matched funding from central and local government and private companies.

Cookworthy Forest Centre

The Cookworthy Forest Centre provides a Rural Resource facility for both local and more distant communities; helping to reverse the trend towards the centralisation of agencies, facilities and sources of advice.

A Rural Resource Centre

Open from 10.00am to 4.00pm, Monday to Friday, the Centre provides:

Offices for South West Forest, Forestry Commission and Forest Enterprise staff.
A technical library, with computer facilities (including internet access), information on contractors, timber users, business and training opportunities in forestry, as well as timber for sale.
Exhibition Space for wood based crafts and products.
A venue for networking days held at the centre throughout the year.
An education service for schools, colleges, individual students and other community groups.
Access to surrounding Forestry Commission woodland, wetland and meadow habitats.
The construction of a Celtic Roundhouse.

Finding Us

An Ordnance Survey extract showing the immediate location of the South West Forest Centre is available here.

Alternatively, click here for a direct connection to streetmap.co.uk

Contacting Us

Email • swforest@devon.gov.uk

Telephone • 01409 221896

Fax • 01409 221269

Post • South West Forest, Cookworthy Forest Centre, BEAWORTHY EX21 5UX