South West Region Partnerships The Region works with a wide range of organisations that help both with the planting and management of woodland as well as with developing policy, helping implement the Regional Woodland and Forestry Framework and involving local communities. A number of partnerships are supported by direct investment from the Region, through a contribution towards the cost of a delivery project. In other cases, the Region gives support through staff time and advice. Current partnerships, with weblinks where available include: A LEADER + project in the Blackdown Hills AONB aiming to develop links between local products, the community and the economy. Woodlands and Forestry are a key business sector. A joint project between some of the South West's protected landscapes, the Centre for Sustainable Energy and the Woodland Renaissance Partnership to provide advice on woodfuel and installations. Cotswolds Ancient Woodland Project The project is a partnership between the Forestry Commission, the Cotswolds Conservation Board and Natural England. Its focus is to protect and enhance the ancient and native woodlands of the Cotswolds AONB to achieve landscape scale benefits. Further information is contained in the Cotswolds Ancient Woodland Project leaflet (PDF 248KB) Dartmoor National Park and Tamar AONB share an Ancient Woodland Priority Area where effort is being concentrated to encourage and help woodland owners manage their Ancient Woods. The Dorset Woodlink project (PDF 135KB) is a county-wide partnership project being led by the AONB team. The project aims to bring more woodlands into active management across the county, which when done in the right way has great benefits for wildlife and the environment, as well as for the local rural economy. Exmoor National Park A woodland certification scheme and chain of custody scheme has been established and effort is now concentrating on bringing Ancient Woodland into favourable condition in this Ancient Woodland Priority Area. The Forest is constantly evolving and becoming a greener environment each year enhancing the quality of life for all living in or near Bristol. This exciting environmental project is creating a rich mosaic of woodlands, green spaces and areas for wildlife in and around Swindon and the surrounding towns and villages. It is providing a high quality environment for homes, employment, education and recreation. The Neroche Scheme is a £3.5 million Landscape Partnership Scheme supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
It is setting out to celebrate, enhance and reinforce the heritage of part of the Blackdowns AONB. Regen SW leads on the Bioheat SW project which provides support involving consultancy on initial feasibility for biomass technology, grant sourcing, fuel supply contracts and much more. Projects are aimed at a scale greater than domestic systems (> 150 kW in size). The main aims are to enhance the lifestyles of those living and working in the South West Forest area, the environment in which they live and opportunities for integrated, sustainable rural development. To showcase opportunities associated with woodlands in the South West to a wide range of audiences within a framework of rural regeneration. The Woodfair provides a learning and leisure environment for all ages whilst offering a key commercial opportunity for small and medium sized rural-based businesses. The vision is to regenerate woodland and forestry in the South West for the benefit of the economy, society and the environment. It focuses on supporting woodland management, harvesting, processing, local timber use, woodfuel development, and increasing the benefits to the industry of non-timber use of woodlands. Through the Woodland Renaissance Scheme the Partnership aims to inspire and sustain investment in the sector. Investigating the feasibility of Forest Schools in the Gloucestershire section of the AONB.
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