Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse has lent her support to a groundbreaking reforestation initiative aimed at planting 100,000 new trees just eight miles west of Bath. On May 30, the Bath MP visited Lower Chew Forest near Compton Dando to witness firsthand the progress made by Avon Needs Trees (ANT), a charity committed to addressing climate change and biodiversity loss by establishing permanent woodlands across the Bristol-Avon river catchment.
ANT has already successfully planted 31,000 trees at Great Avon Wood near Pensford, a 100-acre site acquired in 2023. Their latest endeavor, Lower Chew Forest, covers 400 acres and forms part of a broader DEFRA Landscape Recovery program spanning 780 hectares in the Chew Valley. Collaborating with seven other landowners, ANT is creating a diverse mosaic of woodlands, species-rich grasslands, wetlands, and hedgerows.
During the visit, Katie Macnamara, ANT’s partnerships lead, and Aran Shaunak, business development manager, shared the charity’s visionary plans for the site. These include fostering nature-based tourism through wellness courses, constructing eco-friendly mini-cabins, and leveraging the sale of Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) credits.
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The BNG concept incentivizes developers to improve environmental outcomes by purchasing biodiversity units proportional to their projects' ecological impact. These funds support habitat creation initiatives like ANT’s woodland restoration schemes.
Aran Shaunak expressed enthusiasm about the visit: “We were thrilled to showcase Lower Chew Forest to Wera and outline our ambitious tree planting goals. The Biodiversity Net Gain market is a game-changer, enabling us to invest in landscape-scale conservation projects previously beyond reach. By assigning economic value to biodiversity, we can build a greener, more resilient future for nature, climate, and local communities.”
Wera Hobhouse also discussed how ANT’s efforts align with England’s national woodland targets, including the government’s pledge to plant 7,500 hectares of new woodland annually by 2025—targets that have repeatedly fallen short. She emphasized the critical role of tree planting in carbon offsetting and restoring biodiversity.
“Planting trees is essential for combating climate change and halting biodiversity loss. Initiatives like Avon Needs Trees are vital in driving these efforts forward, enhancing our green spaces, improving air quality, and safeguarding the planet’s future. Avon Needs Trees – Take a bough!” she concluded.