New woodlands create a sense of hope

As we’re deep in tree planting season, it’s reassuring to hear that our local communities overwhelmingly agree that tree planting is a good thing. Scientists at Forest Research carried out a community survey and individual interviews with people living within a 30-minute walk of new planting sites in the Forest of Marston Vale (the same research was also conducted for National Forest sites.)

In the accompanying video, created by Forest Research, our Brand and Fundraising Manager Robina shares reflections on how new woodlands can support people’s wellbeing, alongside our Head Ranger Anna Charles, who helped support the research and the creation of these new woodlands.

As a Community Forest, the core purpose of the Forest of Marston Vale Trust is to plant trees and manage woodlands in ways that benefit the local area environmentally, economically and socially. This research highlights just how powerful those social benefits can be — particularly when people are able to see new woodlands grow over time.

Key findings from the study include:

People who visit their local new woodlands more frequently have better mental wellbeing

New woodlands are important for wildlife

The more often people visit new woodlands, the more they value them

Local people develop a strong sense of personal responsibility towards new woodlands

People who never visit their local woodland have the highest levels of anxiety

“We found that, overwhelmingly, the communities studied believed that local tree planting and the creation of new woodlands was a good thing.

We also discovered that new woodland provides unique experiences and opportunities for visitors, for example through sensory experiences and opportunities to build connections to trees. Even non-visitors benefited from these woodlands, by developing a sense of pride in their local place.”

Dr Beth Brockett, Social Scientist, Forest Research

While some of these benefits may apply to all woodlands, many participants spoke specifically about the joy of watching a new woodland being planted and grow over time. Being able to notice changes over weeks, months and years – new species appearing, wildlife arriving – stimulated curiosity and encouraged people to return again and again.

Talking about the trees in Rectory Wood, Richard, one of the interviewees, said: “They grow with you, don’t they? I mean, you can point to a tree and say, ‘I planted that 10 years ago with my grandchildren.’”

Those of us who work and volunteer for the Forest of Marston Vale Trust have always thought that trees make life better – it’s good to hear that other people think the same.

Read the full research here