Forestry England is inviting people to have their say about a brand new woodland near Okehampton.
A public consultation is open until midnight on Friday 6 March.
The woodland, to be called Okement Wood, is half a mile from Forestry England’s popular Abbeyford Woods, and it is one of several new woodlands Forestry England is creating in Devon as part of its work to grow the nation’s forests.
The new woodland will provide valuable habitat for wildlife, help connect existing woodlands in the area, absorb carbon, and give local people a beautiful new green space to explore and enjoy. Once the trees have grown, Okement Wood will also provide a sustainable source of British timber.
Forestry England invites local communities to view its design plans, which have been carefully created for the new woodland based on thorough surveys of the land and its existing wildlife.
The plans include an artist’s impression of what the site might look like in 10 years, a list of the different tree species that could be planted, and questions already raised by people living in neighbouring properties. They can be viewed online as part of the consultation.
There will also be an in-person ‘drop-in’ event at Inwardleigh and Folly Gate Village Hall on Tuesday, February 24 from 4pm to 7pm. Local people are invited to attend the event to find out more about Okement Wood and speak to members of the Forestry England team.
Kevin Stannard, Forest Management Director in the West of England, said: “I’m delighted to share our plans for Okement Wood with the local communities who will be most involved in its future. In time, this will be a valuable new green space for people living and working nearby, while also providing important habitat for wildlife and much-needed carbon storage.
“We have used the latest research and carried out thorough surveys of the land, its wildlife, and the surrounding environment to create our design plans. The tree species we have chosen have also been carefully selected to cope with future challenges such as pests, diseases, and our changing climate, ensuring that Okement Wood will provide benefits to people and wildlife for generations to come.”
