RESIDENTS are being invited to share their views on a major new woodland project near Edge End.

Forestry England has launched a public consultation on plans to create an 88-hectare woodland at Hoarthorns, following its purchase of the site in December 2024.

The new woodland will form part of a national effort to expand and future-proof England’s forests, including those in the Forest of Dean.

Once established, the site will be open for public access and designed as a quiet, natural space for local people to explore and enjoy.

It will be planted with a diverse mixture of broadleaf and conifer trees, which will create rich habitats for wildlife and eventually provide a sustainable source of timber.

A public consultation event will take place on Thursday, May 22, at the Berry Hill Memorial Institute ‘The Hut’ on Park Road in Coleford.

Locals are invited to drop in anytime between 4PM and 7PM to view the proposed designs and speak with Forestry England staff.

The consultation period opened on Tuesday, May 6, and will close on Sunday, June 1.

Forestry England manages over 1,500 woods and forests across the country and is the largest land manager in England. The organisation says the new woodland near Edge End is part of its wider commitment to making forests more resilient to climate change.

A spokesperson for Forestry England said: “We’re excited to be creating a new woodland that local people can enjoy for generations to come. By planting a mix of tree species and designing the site for quiet recreation, we’re aiming to create a space that benefits both people and nature.”

This project is supported by the Nature for Climate Fund, part of the government’s broader environmental agenda, and contributes to Forestry England’s goals of planting at least 2,000 hectares of new, high-quality woodland by 2026.