As a resident and Forest of Dean District councillor, I see and hear daily just how deeply the community cares about its home.

Our district isn’t just where we live; it’s a part of who we are. Our customs, our industries, our landscapes, and our sense of identity are woven together in a way that is rare in modern Britain. That is exactly why our bid to become a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve is not only timely but essential.

A Biosphere designation is often misunderstood. It is not an inflexible conservation park, nor is it an attempt to turn the Forest of Dean district into a museum piece.

Instead, it is an internationally recognised framework that helps communities shape their own future, helping to balance nature, livelihoods, and culture. In fact, Biospheres succeed precisely because they empower local people, not because they restrict them.

For the Forest of Dean, this matters. We are a district with a proud history of industry, food production and resilient communities. Our ancient customs and rights, including wassailing, commoning, free mining and the role of the verderers are not relics from a bygone era; they are living practices that define our relationship with the land. The Biosphere bid explicitly acknowledges this. It places cultural heritage on equal footing with environmental stewardship and economic opportunity. Far from threatening our rights, it gives us a stronger platform to protect them.

Becoming a Biosphere would bring practical benefits too. It would open doors to funding, research partnerships, and investment in our area that we simply cannot access otherwise. It would help all manner of local businesses, both large and small, innovate and thrive in a changing world, celebrating our specialness. It can give our young people new opportunities to learn, train, and build careers without feeling they must leave the district to succeed.

Most importantly, a Biosphere is community-led. Nothing can be imposed on the Forest without the Forest’s consent. The designation does not override planning powers, local governance, or existing rights. It does not impose new restrictions on the activities that we currently hold so dear. Instead, it provides a shared vision that we shape together, one that respects our past while preparing for our future.

We all know the pressures our district faces: climate change, economic uncertainty, and the need to protect the landscapes that make this place unique. The Biosphere bid is our chance to shape our future, to make our story, for now and for future generations. An opportunity to celebrate what makes the district special, and to ensure that our ancient rights continue to be lived, not just remembered.’

This is an opportunity rooted in pride, not fear. It is a chance to show the world what we already know: the Forest of Dean is extraordinary, and its people are its greatest strength.

Find out more about our Biosphere application on the council’s dedicated webpages: https://www.fdean.gov.uk/biosphere